title: Whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: current evidence in oncology and potential role in colorectal cancer staging.
abstract: Tumour staging in cancer patients generally entails a multimodality imaging approach. Whole-body (WB) imaging techniques may, however, be more time- and cost-effective than a multimodality approach. 2-fluorine-18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (18FDG-PET), computed tomography (CT) and hybrid positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) are the most established WB modalities, although new techniques, amongst which diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI), are emerging. This review aims to evaluate the current evidence for WB-DWI in oncology, to discuss its potential for the WB staging of (colo)rectal cancer and to relate it to the established WB techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Doenja M J
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lambregts
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maas
authors.forename: Vincent C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Cappendijk
authors.forename: Leonne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Prompers
authors.forename: Felix M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mottaghy
authors.forename: Geerard L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Beets
authors.forename: Regina G H
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Beets-Tan
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods