Azzedine Benaissa, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Kahina Moussa-Bouharati, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nicolas Goossens, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Coralie Barbe, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Alain Delmer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Claude Dominique Marcus MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Whole body diffusion weighted (WB DW) MRI appears as a promising functional technique for oncology purposes. The aim of the study was to investigate whether using 3T instead of 1.5T modifies the results of WB DW imaging for the staging of lymphoma with FDG-PET/CT as the standard of reference

Twenty-three (n=23) patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma were evaluated at 3T and 1.5T using WB DW images and compared to PET/CT findings. Images were reviewed in consensus by two radiologists during separate sessions for assessment of image quality and lesion detection. True-positive, false positive and false-negative values were evaluated on a per-lesion basis. Tumor staging based on WB DW images at 3T and 1.5T was compared using the Ann Arbor staging system.  

According to the Ann Arbor staging system using PET and bone marrow biopsy, disease was stage I in 5 patients, II in 5 patients, III in 3 patients, and IV in 10 patients. WB DW images at 1.5T received significantly better scores than did the images at 3T (Chi2 = 8.7121, p< 0, 05). A total of 506 lymph node regions were analyzed with an excellent agreement between the 3 modalities (Intra class Correlation Coefficient ICC = 0.968). 6 patients had extra nodal lesions with an excellent agreement between the modalities (ICC = 0.917). Staging at 3T and 1.5T was consistent with Ann Arbor staging system in 22 of 23 patients (κ = 0.96).

Performance of WB DW images at 3T was very close to results obtained at 1.5 T for assessment of lymph node areas and extra nodal lesions in patients with newly diagnosed lymphoma.  

WB DW images at 3T can be used accurately for the staging of lymphoma. WB DW MRI, as a non ionizing imaging modality, can become useful as an alternative method to PET/CT in the management of malignan

Benaissa, A, Moussa-Bouharati, K, Goossens, N, Barbe, C, Delmer, A, Marcus, C, Comparison of 3.0T and 1.5T for Whole Body Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging at Initial Diagnosis of Lymphoma.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12025295.html