Whole Body MRI Helpful for Tumor Staging

In the June 4, 2010, edition of the journal Deutsches Arzteblatt International, Dr. Gerwin Schmidt and his coauthors, from the University of Munich (Germany), presented a review of possible uses, together with the limits of this radiation-free diagnostic procedure.

Whole body MRI is suitable for routine use in hospitals, as the procedure takes less than one hour and the images are of high resolution. The technique provides detailed images of different organ systems without exposing the patient to ionizing radiation, which is particularly advantageous in oncology. With the help of different sequence techniques and contrast media, the examination protocol can be optimized to give highly detailed results.

The procedure has already shown its value in the M-staging of tumors, as the diagnostic reliability is 93-97%. As WB-MRI provides high contrast images of bone marrow, it is a particularly effective and low stress examination for patients with multiple myeloma. Whole body MRI is especially advantageous for types of cancer that tend to form distant metastases, such as mammary or colorectal carcinoma, according to the investigators.

The investigators advised in their article against nonspecific screening with whole body MRI, as the expected benefit is too low. The procedure can nevertheless be used in effective therapy planning for groups at risk, even when there is no specific suspicion. This is supported by studies on patients with long-term diabetes mellitus, who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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