Bedeutung der Ganzkörper-MRT beim Staging des kolorektalen Karzinoms

Abstract

Staging and follow-up of colorectal cancer are usually performed with multimodal imaging strategies. These can be time-intensive and potentially lead to examiner-dependent bias. Alternatively, whole body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) provides oncologic imaging with a systemic approach. Ultrasound, multislice computed tomography (MSCT), dedicated MRI and positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT). High-resolution WB-MRI with focused examination of various organs, such as the pelvis and abdomen, lungs, brain and skeletal system, using different sequence and contrast techniques. Detection of colorectal tumor recurrence with WB-MRI provides 83% accuracy (lymph node metastases 80%, organ metastases 86%). Potential cost reduction through decreased examination time and personnel costs. Whole body MRI is a radiation-free alternative to standard sequential algorithms of staging and follow-up of colorectal cancer.