Role of Whole-Body Diffusion-Weighted MR in Assessment of Neoplastic Leisons

Purpose: The aim of this work is to evaluate the value of whole body diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in detection of metastatic bone disease, using bone scintigraphy as comparison. Patients and Methods: Fifteen patients (5 males 10 females), with known primary malignant tumor (confirmed histologically) underwent both whole body MR1 including diffusion weighted whole body imaging with background body signal suppression (DWIBS) and skeletal scintigraphy to detect metastasis. Results: All extraosseous lesions (detected by other modalities as computed tomography and ultrasound) were detected and most of bone lesions (detected by bone scan) were also detected. Conclusion: We concluded that WB-MRI that included DWI holds great promise, and has shown utility in the identification of both bony and visceral metastases. However, more optimization is required for WB-DWI to become a routine screening tool, and large-scale studies are needed to fully gauge its impact in oncology.