Developing a Whole-body MRI and Diffusion-weighted Imaging State-of-the-art Protocol: a Pilot Study

Developing a Whole-body Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Diffusion-weighted Imaging State-of-the-art Protocol, a Pilot Study

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is a non-ionizing imaging method that can provide WB coverage using essential imaging contrasts with the possibility to include sequences focusing in specific body-regions as needed per case. WB-MRI is increasingly being used for the management of cancer patients, especially metastatic ones. An integral part of WB-MRI is becoming whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI (WB-DWI) which is a non-invasive tool used for staging and response evaluation in oncologic practice. WB-DWI is an inherently noisy technique, resulting in it accounting for more than 50% of the acquisition time of conventional whole-body MRI studies with overall duration at least 1-hour. Reducing acquisition times, without compromising image or diagnostic quality would facilitate the wider adoption of clinical WBDWI, reducing costs, and improving the patient experience

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥18 years old;
• Patients with diagnosis of multiple myeloma, lymphoma, lung, prostate, breast, colorectal and gynecologic cancers;
• Patients with genetic syndromes responsible for an increased predisposition to neoplasms (e.g. Li Fraumeni syndrome);
• Signed written informed consent to personal data treatment for research purposes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age <18 years old;
• Refusal to sign the written informed consent to personal data treatment for research purposes.