Ionising radiation-free whole-body MRI in children and young adults with cancer

Researchers at Stanford University have tested an ionizing radiation-free staging method based on whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI and the iron supplement ferumoxytol as contrast agent in a pilot study in children and young adults with malignant lymphomas and sarcomas, published in Lancet Oncology in March 2014.

The study concludes that although ¹⁸F-FDG PET/CT, which is used as a comparing method, detects a slightly higher number of malignant lesions, the MRI-method is superior as it demonstrates a higher specificity and involves no ionizing radiation.

The MRI-technique is believed to have great potential  as an alternative to imaging methods involving ionizing radiation, not least among children and young adults who are especially sensitive to radiation exposure.

Listen to Håkan Ahlström, professor of radiology within the Department of Radiology, Oncology and Radiation Science at Uppsala University, commenting on the Lancer article in Sveriges Radios “Vetenskapsradion” below

http://sverigesradio.se/sida/gruppsida.aspx?programid=406&grupp=12718&artikel=5788355

 

Link to the Lancet Oncology podcast:

http://download.thelancet.com/flatcontentassets/audio/lanonc/2014/lanonc_february.mp3