title: Whole-body MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging, for staging lymphoma: comparison with CT in a prospective multicenter study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), to computed tomography (CT) for staging newly diagnosed lymphoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 108 patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma prospectively underwent whole-body MRI (T1-weighted and T2-weighted short inversion time inversion recovery [n = 108], and DWI [n = 104]) and CT. Ann Arbor stages were assigned according to whole-body MRI and CT findings. Staging disagreements were resolved using bone marrow biopsy, FDG-PET, and follow-up studies. The results were descriptively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Staging results of whole-body MRI without DWI were equal to those of CT in 66.6%, higher in 24.1%, and lower in 9.3%, with correct/incorrect/unresolved higher staging and incorrect/unresolved lower staging relative to CT in 15/7/4 and 9/1 patient(s), respectively. Staging results of whole-body MRI with DWI were equal to those of CT in 65.4%, higher in 27.9%, and lower in 6.7%, with correct/incorrect/unresolved higher staging and incorrect/unresolved lower staging relative to CT in 18/6/5 and 6/1 patient(s), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that whole-body MRI staging equals CT staging in the majority of patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma. No advantage of additional DWI was demonstrated. Whole-body MRI can be a good alternative to CT if radiation exposure should be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Thomas C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Kwee
authors.forename: Malou A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vermoolen
authors.forename: Erik A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Akkerman
authors.forename: Marie José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kersten
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fijnheer
authors.forename: Inge
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: Frederik J A
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Beek
authors.forename: Maarten S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Marc B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Bierings
authors.forename: Marrie C A
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bruin
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zsíros
authors.forename: Henriëtte M E
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Quarles van Ufford
authors.forename: John M H
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stoker
authors.forename: Cuno S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Uiterwaal
authors.forename: Rutger A J
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Nievelstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: CT; Hodgkin; lymphoma; staging; whole-body MRI