Staging of colon cancer: whole-body MRI vs. whole-body PET-CT--initial clinical experience.
BACKGROUND
To assess the accuracy of whole-body MR imaging (WB-MRI) in comparison with whole-body [18(F)]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) PET-CT in staging patients with diagnosed colorectal carcinoma (CRC).


METHODS
Twenty consecutive patients with previously diagnosed CRC underwent WB-MRI (3T) and PET-CT for staging of lymph node (N) and distant metastases (M). Evaluation was done according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Criteria. MR images were evaluated by two radiologists while PET-CT images by one radiologist and one nuclear medicine physician. Histology and/or a clinical follow-up of 3-6 months served as standard of reference.


RESULTS
Lymph node involvement was determined in 10/20 cases as N-positive in WB-MRI and in 15/20 in PET-CT. M-stage was evaluated for liver metastases (27 lesions in 15 patients with WB-MRI, 23/15 patients with PET-CT), lung (19/5 patients with WB-MRI, 25/7 patients with PET-CT), and bone (9/3 patients with WB-MRI, 9/3 patients with PET-CT). Two patients showed peritoneal implants and three patients demonstrated local recurrence at the surgery site on both modalities. No brain metastases were found.


CONCLUSIONS
WB-MRI is a feasible method for examining colon cancer patients but cannot displace the present role of PET-CT.
Squillaci
Ettore
E
Department of Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Policlinic Tor Vergata, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Viale Oxford, 81, Rome, Italy. ettoresquillaci@tiscali.it
Manenti
Guglielmo
G
Mancino
Stefano
S
Cicciò
Carmelo
C
Calabria
Ferdinando
F
Danieli
Roberta
R
Schillaci
Orazio
O
Simonetti
Giovanni
G
D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015588:Observer Variation; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18