Whole-Body Diffusion-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography Combined with Computed Tomography in the Staging of Lymphomas

Objective – to compare the diagnostic efficiency of whole-body diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (PET/CT) in the staging of lymphomas.

Material and methods. The prospective study enrolled 92 adult patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Before treatment, all the patients underwent whole-body DW-MRI and PET/CT. The techniques were compared for their efficiency in diagnosing damage to lymph nodes (LNs) and organs and in determining the stage of lymphoma.

Results. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of DW-MRI in diagnosing a lesion in the enlarged LNs were 98.2%, 99.9%, and 99.3%, respectively; those of PET/CT were 99.4%, 100.0%, and 99.8%. ROC analysis showed that the efficiency of the techniques in diagnosing a lesion in the enlarged LNs did not differ (p>0.06). The sensitivity of DW-MRI and PET/CT in diagnosing a lesion in the unenlarged LNs was 77.8% and 88.1%, respectively (p<0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of DW-MRI in diagnosing lung damage were 73.3%, 98.7%, 94.6%; those of PET/CT were 86.7%, 98.7%, and 96.7%; those for the spleen were 54.8%, 98.3%, 83.3% and 100.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%; those for bone marrow (BM) were 87.1%, 96.4%, 93.0% and 64.5%, 87.3%, 79.1%,; those for all organs were 72.9%, 98.1%, 91.4% and 80.0%, 96.6%, 92.2%. The ROC analysis indicated that the efficiency of the techniques in diagnosing a lesion in the lung did not differ (p>0.3), that of PET/CT for the spleen was higher (p <0.0001); that of DW-MRI for BM was higher (p<0.0008); that for all organs did not differ (p>0.35). DW-MRI and PET/CT could determine the correct stage of lymphoma in the same number of patients (86%). The new lymphoma staging algorithm involving whole-body DW-MRI in all patients, PET/CT, and BM biopsies according to the established indications made it possible to determine the correct stage of lymphoma in 95% of patients.

Conclusion. Whole-body DW-MRI has comparable efficiency to PET/CT in the staging of lymphoma. The new lymphoma staging algorithm based on whole-body DW-MRI is superior to PET/CT and PET/CT with BM biopsy.

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