Functional Cancer Staging in Black Africans - An Initial Experience with Whole Body Diffusion MRI

G. Asafu Adjaye Frimpong, E. Aboagye, K.C. Gyasi-Sarpong, K.E.K. Aboah, CK Adofo , N.E. Coleman, A.U. Divekarand J. Poku-Adusei

Spectra Health Imaging and Interventional Radiology Centre, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Radiology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Department of Surgery, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana SDA Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana 5Guildford Nuffield Hospital, United Kingdom

^*Correspondance to: George Asafu Adjaye Frimpong 

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Abstract:

Aim: To report on our initial experience with whole body diffusion weighted MRI (WB-DWMRI) for cancer staging, using the Metastasis Reporting and Data System for Prostate (METRADS-P) criteria and scoring, aiming at finding evidence of visceral/and or bony metastasis in already diagnosed tumor cases involving different types of tumors. Methods: The study involved 34 known oncological patients who were referred for cancer staging with Whole Body Diffusion Weighted MRI (WB-DW-MRI) at our center within the period of the study. WB-DW-MRI was performed on a 1.5T clinical scanner recently installed in our center. Scans were performed using 6 Channel body phase array coils isocenter matrix coil (spine coil) and 16 Channel Head/Neck Coil. Patients were examined in supine position and four stations of axial free breathing Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI). Results: Majority of our study population were males, recording a mean age of 60.2 years. The lesions indicated for WB-DW-MRI included prostate cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, gastric cancer, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma, rectal cancer and lung cancer. Prostate cancer was the most common lesion (n=25, 73.5%). Visceral and/or bony metastasis was evident in 12 out of the 34 cases reported, majority of which were prostate cancer cases. Conclusion: Whole body diffusion weighted MRI has proven to be effective in assessing visceral, nodal and bony metastasis in various types of malignancies in a black African population. Based on this experience, we reinforce the recommendation that WB-DW-MRI should be integrated into routine clinical practice.

Keywords:

Whole body diffusion; Diffusion weighted imaging; MRI; Prostate cancer; Breast cancer; Bony and visceral metastasis

Cite the Article:

Asafu Adjaye Frimpong G, Aboagye E, Gyasi-Sarpong KC, Aboah KEK, Coleman NE. Functional Cancer Staging in Black Africans - An Initial Experience with Whole Body Diffusion MRI. Clin Oncol. 2020;5:1682.