Three-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold MR imaging for whole-body tumor staging in less than 15 minutes: a feasibility study.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) volumetric interpolated breath-hold whole-body MR imaging using CT and nuclear medicine techniques as the standard of reference in patients with metastases.

Conclusion: The 3D volumetric interpolated breath-hold whole-body MR imaging examination for metastases screening correlates well with CT and scintigraphy. The use of the rolling table platform permits rapid whole-body imaging in an average of 11 min. The preliminary results indicate that the described technique has the potential to emerge as an all-encompassing alternative to conventional multimodality tumor staging strategies.