PET/MR Provides Greater Accuracy in Cancer Detection: Study

Posted by PET / CT of Las Colinas on July 19th, 2017

With an estimated 1.7 million Americans likely to be diagnosed with cancer in the coming year, accuracy in diagnosis and staging is critical for ensuring positive outcomes. A recent study into the use of dual-agent PET/MR scans versus conventional bone scans shows this powerful diagnostic tool can help a great deal on that end.

Drawing on the properties of both PET and MRI scans in a single test, this procedure has been shown to have greater accuracy in detecting cancer and its spread than other screening procedures. In addition, the PET/MR scan is able to do its job while drawing on a lower dose of radiation than traditional bone scans.

The study that supported the use of PET/MR technology in detecting cancer and its spread involved more than 50 cancer patients. Some of the patents were men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The rest were women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer. All patients were recommended to undergo more conventional bone scans to determine if their cancer had spread to the skeletal system.

During the study, researchers used a special low-dose tracer and the combination PET/MR scan. The study showed improved detection qualities for both prostate and breast cancer patients who had disease spread to the bone. When compared with the traditional bone scan, the PET/MI’s performance was superior. It found more bone metastases in 14 of the patients than the bone scan did on its own. There was only a single lesion out of the study group that a bone scan detected, but the PET/MI did not.

The bottom line, researchers say, is that the PET/MI is better able to detect metastases better than a conventional bone scan. It also does so while allowing for a significantly lower dose of radiation. Whether the findings will translate to this screening procedure being used more readily in routine practice remains unknown. The findings, however, are quite positive in that they show a path forward for enhancing the accuracy of diagnosis.

Once cancer is diagnosed, the next important step involves gaining a clear picture of its stage, aggressiveness and precise locations in the body. If cancer is believed to have spread to the bone, it is critical for doctors to understand the location and extent so that appropriate interventions can be taken. The PET/MR scan may offer the insights necessary to improve outcomes.

People who are diagnosed with cancer are urged to talk to their doctors about all screening and treatment recommendations. The best course of action will hinge on a patient’s unique case.

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PET / CT of Las Colinas was developed with both patients and physicians in mind and our services have been used for various types of disease; primarily in detecting, staging and monitoring cancer, but also in heart disease and brain disorders.