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

摘要

Since its advent almost 20 years ago, whole-body MR imaging (WB-MR imaging), using bone and visceral organ-targeting anatomic T1 and short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences, has become a powerful, global tool for detecting skeletal involvement by metastases and to match or exceed available imaging standards, that is, bone scintigraphy and computed tomography (CT). The efficacy of WB-MR imaging has increased because of the development of the diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences, refinements in sequence combinations, and extension of anatomic imaging targets from the skeleton to all organs. Through its combination of anatomic and functional sequences, WB-MR imaging has become a unique, intrinsically hybrid technique, now available for use in oncology.