title: Role of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in immunocompetent patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in imaging of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients with single-site extrapulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated with contrast-enhanced dedicated MRI of the clinically symptomatic site followed by WB-MRI using contrast-enhanced 3-dimensional (3D) modified DIXON technique (m-DIXON) and diffusion-weighted WB imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) sequences. Studies were read by 2 experienced radiologists, and additional lesions seen on WB-MRI were separately charted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 18 patients, 14 were found to have asymptomatic involvement of other organs on WB-MRI. In 5 patients, the information was helpful in choosing an easily accessible site for biopsy/aspiration. Postcontrast 3D m-DIXON was better in picking up brain and lymph nodal lesions, whereas DWIBS was better in detecting vertebral lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole-body MRI may be used for assessing the asymptomatic involvement of other body organs in tuberculosis. The combination of postcontrast 3D m-DIXON and DWIBS is complementary and may provide a road map for biopsy of accessible lesions.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Radiology & Imaging, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana, India; †SRL Diagnostics, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana, India; ‡Philips Electronics India Ltd, Gurgaon, Haryana, India; and §Department of Neurosurgery, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Anoop Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Rakesh Kumar
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Krishan Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Prakash
authors.forename: Nandini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vasdev
authors.forename: Rajendran Karthick
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.forename: Bhaswati
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult