Role Of Magnetic Resonance Imaging In Patients Research Articles

The importance of MRI for rectal cancer evaluation

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained increasing importance in the management of rectal cancer over the last two decades. The role of MRI in patients with rectal cancer has expanded beyond the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system in both staging and restaging scenarios and has contributed to identifying “high” and “low” risk features that can be used to tailor and personalize patient treatment; for instance, selecting the patients for neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) before the total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery based on risk of recurrence. Among those features, the status of the circumferential resection margin (CRM), extramural vascular invasion (EMVI), and tumor deposits (TD) have stood out. Moreover, MRI also has played a role in surgical planning, especially when the tumor is located in the low rectum, when the relationship between tumor and the anal canal is important to choose the best surgical approach, and in cases of locally advanced or recurrent tumors invading adjacent pelvic organs that may require more complex surgeries such as pelvic exenteration. As approaches using organ preservation emerge, including transanal local excision and “watch-and-wait”, MRI may help in the patient selection for those treatments, follow up, and detection of tumor regrowth. Additionally, potential MRI-based prognostic and predictive biomarkers, such as quantitative and semi-quantitative metrics derived from functional sequences like diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE), and radiomics, are under investigation. This review provides an overview of the current role of MRI in rectal cancer in staging and restaging and highlights the main areas under investigation and future perspectives.

Is There a Role for MRI in Plantar Heel Pain.

There is an increasing trend to investigate plantar heel pain with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan though plantar fasciitis is the most common cause. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the role of MRI in patients presenting with plantar heel pain. Case notes and MRI scans of 141 patients with a clinical diagnosis of plantar fasciitis were reviewed retrospectively. There were 98 females and 43 males patients. Fourteen patients had bilateral symptoms. Average age for male patients was 51 years (range = 26-78 years), and for female patients the average age was 52 years (range = 29-76 years). A total of 121 feet had MRI features suggestive of plantar fasciitis. MRI was normal in 32 feet. There was one case of stress fracture of calcaneus and another of a heel fibroma diagnosed on MRI scan. In our study, MRI scan was normal in 20.7% of the cases; 1.3% had a diagnosis other than plantar fasciitis but no sinister pathology. We therefore conclude that MRI scan is not routinely indicated and key is careful clinical assessment. Therapeutic, Level IV: Retrospective, Case series.

Diagnostic Sequence of MRI and PET/CT in a Case of Bone Metastases by Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has gained increasing importance in the management of rectal cancer over the last two decades. The role of MRI in patients with rectal cancer has expanded beyond the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system in both staging and restaging scenarios and has contributed to identifying “high” and “low” risk features that can be used to tailor and personalize patient treatment; for instance, selecting the patients for neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) before the total mesorectal excision (TME) surgery based on risk of recurrence. Among those features, the status of the circumferential resection margin (CRM), extramural vascular invasion (EMVI), and tumor deposits (TD) have stood out. Moreover, MRI also has played a role in surgical planning, especially when the tumor is located in the low rectum, when the relationship between tumor and the anal canal is important to choose the best surgical approach, and in cases of locally advanced or recurrent tumors invading adjacent pelvic organs that may require more complex surgeries such as pelvic exenteration. As approaches using organ preservation emerge, including transanal local excision and “watch-and-wait”, MRI may help in the patient selection for those treatments, follow up, and detection of tumor regrowth. Additionally, potential MRI-based prognostic and predictive biomarkers, such as quantitative and semi-quantitative metrics derived from functional sequences like diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE), and radiomics, are under investigation. This review provides an overview of the current role of MRI in rectal cancer in staging and restaging and highlights the main areas under investigation and future perspectives.

P2-08-13: Does Routine Use of Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Breast Cancer Influence the Outcome?

Abstract Introduction: The role of routine preoperative breast MRI in patients diagnosed with breast cancer is still under discussion. In a milestone review, Houssami et al. (CA Cancer J Clin 2009;59;290) did not demonstrate an advantage with regard to DFS or OS. We reviewed our case series (n=793) in order to add evidence to the current discussion of whether or not preoperative MRI would influence the outcome. Material and Methods: In our database we identified four years of diagnosis (2004-07) in which a high percentage (72%) of patients (349 of 483) with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer received preoperative MRI. In the following years (2008/09), MRI was still done in 31% of the cases (97 of 309). All pts were treated according to national guidelines; however, patients with additional lesions in MRI were subjected to an additional MRI-guided needle biopsy or additional wire-guided excision. The median follow-up time was 31.5 months (0-81). The patients were followed clinically. In most cases local surveillance was done by mammography. Results: In the total cohort, 20% of the patients had additional needle biopsies and/or wire-localisation due to MRI-findings. By MRI, lesions that subsequently led to an additional preoperative needle biopsy were found in 82 pts. Interestingly, only ten contralateral second cancers were found. In 357 pts, MRI was used as guidance during the operation with (n=118) or without MRI-supported wire localization (n=238). The percentage of additional MRI-needle biopsy or MRI-supported localisation did not differ between invasive ductal (n=655) and lobular cancer (n=91): 10% versus 13% needle biopsies and 15% versus 20% wire localisations. The number of surgical procedures to achieve tumor-free margins did not differ between patients with or without preoperative MRI. In this series, 69 of 100 patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, also had MRI-imaging. Considering the patient cohort with follow-up available (n=737), no significant difference of DFS probability was observed between pts with and without preoperative MRI. Discussion: This retrospective analysis did not demonstrate any advantage for routine preoperative MRI with regard to local treatment and DFS probability. The observed rate of 20% additional operative procedures corresponds to similar published data (16% additional multicentric or multifocal lesions found by MRI, Solin, Breast. 2010;19:7). Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-13.

Detection of local recurrences of limb soft tissue sarcomas: Is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relevant?

The role of systematic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after resection of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the limb is opened to debate. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of a systematic MRI examination performed in 124 adult patients treated between 1996 and 2006 for a non-metastatic limb STS at our centre: 86 patients (70%) had clear resection margins (R0) and 111 patients (90%) received an adjuvant radiotherapy. Among the 11 local recurrences (9%) which were observed, MRI was able to detect only 2 asymptomatic local recurrences, one with and one without synchronous metastasis. Both had microscopically involved margins (R1). In contrast, MRI showed 11 false positive cases. As the predictive positive value of MRI was 42%, clinical follow-up seems to be more effective. As observed in our study, systematic MRI examination is not relevant for the follow-up of all limb soft tissue sarcomas. A prospective study could be promoted to evaluate the role of MRI in patients at high risk of local recurrence.

Magnetic resonance imaging of congenital heart disease in adults

The clinical application of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has greatly increased over the past decade. Major advances in MRI technology as well as growing evidence from clinical experience indicate that this imaging modality is ideally suited for noninvasive assessment of the cardiovascular system in this patient population. Echocardiography, the most widely used imaging modality in CHD patients, is often limited in adults due to suboptimal acoustic windows. Recent development of new MRI image acquisition methods that are both faster and provide improved temporal and spatial resolutions allows comprehensive noninvasive assessment of cardiovascular anatomy, global and regional ventricular function, myocardial perfusion and viability, quantitative flow analysis and tissue imaging (e.g. cardiac tumors, pericardial anomalies and vessel wall imaging). This manuscript reviews recent advances in cardiovascular MRI and discusses its application to adolescents and adults before and after treatment of CHD. The role of MRI in patients with tetralogy of Fallot, aortic arch anomalies and Fontan circulation is discussed in detail to illustrate its clinical utility.

Bone disease in multiple myeloma.

Bone disease in multiple myeloma.