Whole-Body MR Imaging: The Novel, "Intrinsically Hybrid," Approach to Metastases, Myeloma, Lymphoma, in Bones and Beyond

Abstract

Whole-body MR imaging (WB-MR imaging) has become a modality of choice for detecting bone metastases in multiple cancers, and bone marrow involvement by multiple myeloma or lymphoma. Combination of anatomic and functional sequences imparts an inherently hybrid dimension to this nonirradiating tool and extends the screening of malignancies outside the skeleton. WB-MR imaging outperforms bone scintigraphy and CT and offers an alternative to PET in many tumors by time of lesion detection and assessment of treatment response. Much work has been done to standardize procedures, optimize sequences, validate indications, confirm preliminary research into new applications, rendering clinical application more user-friendly.

Keywords: Bone metastases; DWI; PET; Rheumatology; WB-MR imaging.