Focused Primary Tumour Staging and WB-MRI Distant Disease Assessment: A Potential All-In-One Staging Tool

Martin D. Pickles¹, Lindsay W. Turnbull¹

Oncology patients undergo multiple imaging investigations to stage their disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a focused primary tumour (breast or prostate) examination in combination with a WB-MRI for staging of distant disease. If successful we propose the addition of this technique could allow the omission of other examinations, such as radionuclide imaging, thereby streamlining the current imaging pathway. We conclude that focused primary tumour examinations in combination with a WB-MRI for staging of distant disease is feasible. However, the technique needs to validated in a much larger cohort than the one studied.