title: The Increasing Spectrum of Indications of Whole-Body MRI Beyond Oncology: Imaging Answers to Clinical Needs.
abstract: Whole-body coverage using MRI was developed almost 2 decades ago. The first applications focused on the investigation of the skeleton to detect neoplastic disease, mainly metastases from solid cancers, and involvement by multiple myeloma and lymphoma. But the extensive coverage of the whole musculoskeletal system, combined with the exquisite sensitivity of MRI to tissue alteration in relation to different pathologic conditions, mainly inflammation, has led to the identification of a growing number of indications outside oncology. Seronegative rheumatisms, systemic sclerosis, inflammatory diseases involving muscles or fascias, and multifocal osseous, vascular, or neurologic diseases represent currently validated or emerging indications of whole-body MRI (WB-MRI). We first illustrate the most valuable indications of WB-MRI in seronegative rheumatisms that include providing significant diagnostic information in patients with negative or ambiguous MRI of the sacroiliac joints and the lumbar spine, assessing disease activity in advanced (ankylosed) central disease, and evaluating the peripherally dominant forms of spondyloarthropathy. Then we review the increasing indications of WB-MRI in other rheumatologic and nonneoplastic disorders, underline the clinical needs, and illustrate the role of WB-MRI in the positive diagnosis and evaluation of disease burden, therapeutic decisions, and treatment monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Frédéric E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Lecouvet
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Michoux
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Adrien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nzeusseu Toukap
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larbi
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bruno Vande
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malghem
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Perrine
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Triqueneaux
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Omoumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Maria Simona
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Stoenoiu
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D051598:Whole Body Imaging / Q000379:methods*