Clinical application of whole-body MRI

Whole body magnetic resonance imaging (WB MRI) has become feasible and enables fast scan throughout the body. This technique is based on a real-time gradient-echo imaging and sliding table platform (rolling table concept, which eliminates time-consuming repositioning of patients and surface coils). MRI scanners of the latest generation use high field MRI units of >1.5 Tesla (T), and are reported to have upgraded capabilities in terms of temporal and spatial resolution due to improved signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) under high magnetic-field strength conditions. The diagnostic accuracy of the whole-body staging strategies of PET/CT and MRI are established. As a start of tumor staging through whole body imaging, PET/CT showed superior performances in T and N staging than WB MRI using 1.5T MR system. But, both imaging procedures showed a similar performance in detecting distant metastases. In a recent report on staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), whole body MR imaging proved to be effective as much as PET/CT in T, N, and M staging. In addition, there were organs of strength for each modality In the detection of metastasis. Therefore, whole-body MRI/ PET would be suggested as a future diagnostic procedure of choice for the whole-body imaging with synergistic effects and reduced radiation exposure.