The role of imaging in hematologic malignancies is complex, with fundamental differences in approach existing between lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia. Key tools in the modern imaging landscape include computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the applications and guidelines for which are constantly evolving, such as with recent advances including the development of new radiomics methods and novel prognostic tools.
The introduction of positron emission tomography (PET)/CT using an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer (18FDG-PET/CT) has significantly impacted the imaging landscape in hematologic malignancies and its applications in clinical practice continue to widen as time goes on. PET/CT is the standard imaging technique for staging patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and has replaced X-ray skeletal surveys in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. However, whilst most Hodgkin lymphomas and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas are highly FDG-avid, other histological subtypes of NHL have less FDG uptake and the development of novel tracers could improve the use of PET/CT imaging in these subtypes.
MRI is another key tool in the diagnosis and staging of hematologic malignancies. In leukemia, MRI is used for the early detection of central nervous system complications. In myeloma, MRI is a valuable tool for the identification of bone involvement, offering higher diagnostic precision than conventional radiography. Furthermore, with increasingly efficient therapies becoming available for hematologic malignancies, the need for sensitive imaging techniques to monitor treatment response has grown. Diffusion weighted MRI (DW-MRI) has a high sensitivity for bone involvement in myeloma, surpassing that of 18 FDG-PET/CT, although, during treatment DW-MRI’s value in prognostication remains under scrutiny, appearing to be lower than that of 18FDG-PET/CT.
Whilst the development of novel imaging techniques and tools provides great promise for improving the clinical management of hematologic malignancies, there is considerable heterogeneity with regards to the use of different imaging tools in clinical practice. The use of these techniques in the real-world setting can be impacted by availability, local expertise and cost, and guidelines from different international societies offer different recommendations.
This collection will welcome manuscripts contributing to deducing the optimum use of modern imaging tools and techniques in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Manuscripts exploring novel applications of imaging tools, such as in the identification of new prognostic markers, are also invited.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
The role of imaging in hematologic malignancies is complex, with fundamental differences in approach existing between lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemia. Key tools in the modern imaging landscape include computed tomography (CT), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the applications and guidelines for which are constantly evolving, such as with recent advances including the development of new radiomics methods and novel prognostic tools.
The introduction of positron emission tomography (PET)/CT using an 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer (18FDG-PET/CT) has significantly impacted the imaging landscape in hematologic malignancies and its applications in clinical practice continue to widen as time goes on. PET/CT is the standard imaging technique for staging patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and has replaced X-ray skeletal surveys in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. However, whilst most Hodgkin lymphomas and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas are highly FDG-avid, other histological subtypes of NHL have less FDG uptake and the development of novel tracers could improve the use of PET/CT imaging in these subtypes.
MRI is another key tool in the diagnosis and staging of hematologic malignancies. In leukemia, MRI is used for the early detection of central nervous system complications. In myeloma, MRI is a valuable tool for the identification of bone involvement, offering higher diagnostic precision than conventional radiography. Furthermore, with increasingly efficient therapies becoming available for hematologic malignancies, the need for sensitive imaging techniques to monitor treatment response has grown. Diffusion weighted MRI (DW-MRI) has a high sensitivity for bone involvement in myeloma, surpassing that of 18 FDG-PET/CT, although, during treatment DW-MRI’s value in prognostication remains under scrutiny, appearing to be lower than that of 18FDG-PET/CT.
Whilst the development of novel imaging techniques and tools provides great promise for improving the clinical management of hematologic malignancies, there is considerable heterogeneity with regards to the use of different imaging tools in clinical practice. The use of these techniques in the real-world setting can be impacted by availability, local expertise and cost, and guidelines from different international societies offer different recommendations.
This collection will welcome manuscripts contributing to deducing the optimum use of modern imaging tools and techniques in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Manuscripts exploring novel applications of imaging tools, such as in the identification of new prognostic markers, are also invited.
Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (clinical cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.
