Affiliations: Cancer Research UK Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research Group, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Downs Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Dr. C Messiou, Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Cotswold Road, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK. Tel.: +44 020 8661 3119; Fax: +44 020 8661 0846; E-mail: Christina.Messiou@icr.ac.uk.
Abstract: Diffusion Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW-MRI) combined with conventional MRI can provide a whole body assessment of metastatic bone disease, improved lesion detection compared to other imaging techniques and a direct quantitative assessment of treatment response. In bone marrow, the presence of fat and bone trabeculae and their changing contributions with disease progression and response to treatment present unique challenges for data acquisition and image interpretation. This article discusses these challenges and reviews the potential of DW-MRI to provide a biomarker of response in metastatic bone disease.
Keywords: Tumour therapy, cancer, diffusion, bone, magnetic resonance imaging
