PET-MRI: NEW IMAGING TRENDS IN LYMPHOMA

Positron emission tomography with 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose integrated with computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) has an established role in the imaging of lymphoma. FDG PET-Magnetic Resonance (FDG PET/MR) is another emerging option. Preliminary results show that whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI has a high sensitivity (90%) and a high specificity (94%), and can be used for the staging of lymphomas with high accuracy [1,2], particularly in small, indolent lymphomas [3]. PET-MR has the added advantage of avoiding radiation exposure, which is especially important in young patients. In general, PET/MRI is likely to be superior to PET/CT where soft tissue contrast is indicated. This image is of an 18 year old male with a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma undergoing pre-chemotherapy work up. Coronal fused T2 STIR image shows FDG-avid enlarged nodal disease above the diaphragm in bilateral cervical, anterior mediastinum, bilateral hila and para-tracheal regions