The evolving role of MRI in oncohaematological disorders

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has opened new possibilities to current diagnostic radiology in the evaluation of bone marrow. Compared with other imaging modalities, MRI is the only technique able to directly visualise bone marrow with its different components of red and yellow marrow. Other advantages of MRI are high-contrast resolution and multiplanar view, as well as extensive coverage of the skeleton with whole-body MRI (WBMRI). However, specificity of signal alterations of bone marrow is low. Therefore, MRI findings need to be integrated with clinical and laboratory findings as well as with haematological and oncological evaluation. MRI provides information that effectively aids diagnosis, staging and follow-up of various bone marrow disorders. There is increasing interest in the capabilities of MRI in the evaluation of bone marrow, in particular of haematological malignancies. According to some authors much work remains to be done to improve sensitivity and specificity of MRI in order to define the real clinical value of this imaging modality in the multidisciplinary management of patients with a haematological malignancy. This article presents recent developments and perspectives in the use of MRI in oncohaematological diseases.

Risonanza magnetica whole-body per l’identificazione delle metastasi scheletriche: confronto con la scintigrafia ossea

“…Interpretation was enhanced by scrolling through the images as a cine loop at a workstation. Interpretation may generally take as little as 10-15 min [11]. …”

“…Il FOV di maggiori dimensioni consente di scannerizzare dalla testa ai piedi pazienti adulti senza necessità di riposizionamento [12]. Sono [11].…”

“…Supported by technical developments in the past decade, MRI has, however, become a viable option for rapid imaging of the whole body [8][9][10][11]. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of WB-MRI in comparison with BS with technetium 99m-methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) in the detection of bone metastases.…”

“…Tuttavia oggigiorno la RM per lo sviluppo tecnologico può essere proposta come uno strumento di diagnostica per immagini rapido per l'intero corpo [8][9][10][11]. Obiettivo di questo studio è stata quella di valutare l'accuratezza della WB-MRI in confronto alla scintigrafia ossea con 99mTc-MDP per l'individuazione delle metastasi scheletriche.…”

Whole Body MRI and Diffusion Weighed Images in Pediatric Oncology: Lymphomas and Several Others Tumors

“…Staging both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma involves the search for bone marrow involvement present at up to 16 % of whose that can be missed at plain radiography [42]. WB-MRI has proved to be more sensitive than scintigraphy detecting both marrow and nonmarrow involvement [17] and can be a very good alternative to patients who cannot undergo a PET-CT [43] during its important staging because even the iliac crest blind biopsy can be negative reflecting the patchy bone marrow involvement pattern [44] (Fig. 6).…”