Institution: | 1. Department of Radiology, Di.Bi.Med., University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 127, 90127 Palermo, Italy;2. Department of Hematology I, Azienda Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia-Cervello, Viale Strasburgo 233, 90146 Palermo, Italy |
Abstract: | PurposeTo compare patient experience of whole-body MRI and FDG-PET/CT performed for lymphoma staging.MethodsOne-hundred-fifteen patients (59 males, 56 females; 53 Hodgkin, 62 non-Hodgkin; mean age: 43.8?years) with lymphoma underwent whole-body MRI and FDG-PET/CT for staging and filled a questionnaire regarding their experience of the examinations using a 4-point Likert scale (1, very good; 4,very bad). Differences were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Patients were asked to express their preference on both techniques. Preferences were compared on the basis of gender, age, and Ann Arbor stage using the chi-square test. A p-value?≤?.05 was considered significant.ResultsMost patients found FDG-PET/CT a more burdensome examination than whole-body MRI. Whole-body MRI received a significantly lower score regarding overall satisfaction (p?<?.05), patient experience before (p?<?.05) and after (p?<?.05) scan. No significant difference was found in scan preparation (p?=?.207) and patient experience during scan (p?=?.38). The average Likert scores were?<2 in all criteria for both types of scan. 54 patients preferred whole-body MRI, 10 preferred FDG-PET/CT, and 51 had no preference. There was no significant difference in technique preference according to gender (p?=?.73), age (p?=?.43), and stage (p?=?1.00).ConclusionsWhole-body MRI and FDG-PET/CT demonstrate high degree of patients’ acceptance and tolerance. |