Trial Information

Whole-Body MRI in the Evaluation of Pediatric Malignancies

Eligible patients will have a cancer that is known to spread to other areas of the body
(metastasize). This study will look at the best way to see if and where the cancer has
spread (metastatic disease). The standard tests (conventional imaging tests) that are used
to determine the extent and spread of these diseases may include magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), computed tomography (CT), bone scanning, gallium scanning, and/or
metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scanning. The standard tests that are required will depend on
the specific disease. The main purpose of this research study is to see if a new imaging
test, called whole-body fast MRI, can detect disease as accurately as the standard tests.
Whole-body fast MRI is a diagnostic test that uses a large magnet to take pictures of the
body with rapid imaging times. Up to now, it has not been used routinely in the evaluation
of children with cancer. The results of whole-body fast MRI will be compared with that of
conventional imaging for detecting distant metastases.

In addition to studying whole-body fast MRI; the study doctors would also like to look at a
second imaging study called positron emissions tomography (PET). A PET scan is a
specialized imaging test that uses radiation to locate areas of disease. The PET scan
portion of this study is completely optional.