Rapid whole body screening and imaging via Diffusion Weighted Imaging with body signal suppression, parameter optimization and quality assessment

In the era of molecular imaging, Diffusion Weighted Imaging is impacting dramatically upon virtually all areas of clinical medicine. DWI should be able to identify key biochemical changes, much before the pathology becomes detectable by other functional imaging methods. Molecular imaging through magnetic resonance could be potentially suited for screening and repeated monitoring since it entails no exposure to ionizing radiation. Also the introduction in clinical practice of fast imaging sequences such as echo planar imaging (EPI) and parallel imaging techniques have accelerated the use of MRI as a potential tool for screening. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of a rapid multi-contrast whole-body MRI protocol for fast screening and imaging. The performed imaging protocol consisted a rapid three dimensional diffusion-weighted imaging sequence, a high contrast STIR sequence and a T1 weighted Fast Spoiled Gradient Echo.