18F-FDG PET/MRI Basic Protocols for Pediatric Oncology at 4 Different Medical Centers
| Institution, scanner model, and FOV | Basic protocol for children | PET/MRI acquisition time and injected dose | Chest CT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; GE Healthcare Signa (TOF); FOV, WB | WB MRAC axial 3D T1 spoiled gradient echo (LAVA Flex); axial FRFSE Flex WB diffusion-weighted imaging (b = 50, 400, 800) (no intravenous contrast); local imaging if required | Varies with patient height; WB scan; 30–60 min; PET, 3 min/bed ≥ 5 y or 4 min/bed < 5 y; injected dose, 3.7 MBq/kg | Required |
| Children’s Wisconsin; GE Healthcare Signa (TOF); FOV, WB | WB MRAC; axial 3D T1 spoiled gradient echo (LAVA Flex) (sagittal and coronal reformats); axial FRFSE Flex (no intravenous contrast); local imaging if required | Varies with patient height; WB scan < 30 min; PET, 3 min/bed; injected dose: 2.96 MBq/kg | Only for small lung lesions |
| University of Tübingen; Siemens Biograph mMR; FOV, WB | WB MRAC; contrast-enhanced axial 3D T1 Dixon spoiled gradient echo (VIBE); WB STIR coronal; WB DWI (b = 50,800); local imaging if required | Varies with patient height; WB scan, 45–90 min; PET, 6 min/bed; injected dose, 3.7 MBq/kg | Only if therapeutic consequence is possible (e.g., resection of lung metastases in sarcoma) |
| Stanford University; GE Healthcare Signa (TOF); FOV, WB | WB MRAC; contrast-enhanced axial 3D T1 spoiled gradient echo (LAVA Flex); axial FRFSE Flex; WB DWI (b = 50, 600 or 800); local imaging if required | Varies with patient height; WB scan, 60 − 90 min; PET, 4 min/bed; injected dose, 3.7 MBq/kg | Only if therapeutic consequence is possible |
Typical WB PET/CT acquisition time for protocols mentioned in table is less than 30 min.
TOF = time of flight; FOV = field of view; WB = whole body; MRAC = MRI attenuation correction; 3D = 3-dimensional; T1 = T1-weighted; LAVA = Dixon liver acquisition with volume acquisition; Flex = fat/water separation; FRFSE = fast relaxation fast spin echo; bed = bed position; VIBE = volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination; DWI = diffusion-weighted imaging; STIR = short-inversion-time inversion recovery.