Abbreviated whole‐body MRI for follow‐up in pediatric lymphoma: results of a multicenter prospective study

Introduction: The evaluation of treatment response in pediatric lymphoma is critical for making informed treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) and traditional whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are the most commonly used imaging modalities for assessing treatment response in lymphoma. However, PET/CT exposes patients to ionizing radiation, and its high cost and limited availability may limit its use for routine follow-up. Traditional whole-body MRI is a noninvasive alternative, but it has some limitations, including prolonged acquisition time and the need for sedation, which can be burdensome for pediatric patients. Abbreviated whole-body MRI (AWBMRI) has emerged as a promising imaging modality for monitoring treatment response in pediatric lymphoma. AWBMRI requires less time and is typically performed without sedation, making it a potentially more feasible and patient-friendly alternative to traditional MRI for routine follow-up. Methods: A multicenter prospective study was conducted, enrolling 103 pediatric patients aged 0 to 18 years with pathologically confirmed lymphoma. All patients underwent both PET/CT and abbreviated whole-body MRI at baseline and during follow-up. Image quality of abbreviated whole-body MRI was evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale, and interobserver agreement was assessed. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of abbreviated whole-body MRI for detecting residual or recurrent disease were calculated, with PET/CT used as the reference standard. Results: Image quality of abbreviated whole-body MRI was rated as good or excellent in 97% of cases, with high interobserver agreement. Abbreviated whole-body MRI demonstrated a sensitivity of 90%, specificity of 96%, and accuracy of 94% for detecting residual or recurrent disease, with excellent agreement between abbreviated whole-body MRI and PET/CT findings. Keyword: Other No conflicts of interests pertinent to the abstract.