Research published in the Journal of Radiology yesterday has revealed that whole body DWIBS MRI is the best imaging modality when scanning for multiple myeloma. Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer, differs from other cancers in that it does not form into a lump or tumour; rather, it causes plasma cells to grow uncontrollably within the bone marrow.
Since opening its doors in Vancouver in 2009, AIM Medical Imaging  has offered whole body DWIBS (diffusion weighted imaging with background suppression). Dr. Attariwala has talked tirelessly on this life-saving technique, from speaking at international health conferences, penning his own research articles for peer-reviewed medical journals, and spreading the word on local talk radio. Whole Body DWIBS MRI is not only the optimal method for early detection of cancers, it is also ideal for imaging patients' responses to treatment, or even just getting an up-to-date 'snapshot' of one's current state of health--all without risk of exposure to ionizing radiation.
Whole Body DWIBS is useful for imaging Multiple Myeloma specifically for a number of reasons. First, multiple myeloma spreads easily through the bone marrow and may be found in several different body areas such as the bones of the arms
and legs, vertebrae, skull and ribs; whole body DWIBS will take a look at the entire bone marrow structure in one go. Furthermore, whole body DWIBS eliminates the need for multiple scans. Says Nandita DeSouza, Professor of Translational Imaging at the Institute of Cancer Research and one of the authors of the study: "This is the first time we've been able to obtain information from all the bones in the entire body for myeloma in one scan without having to rely on individual bone X-rays... The results can be visualized immediately; we can look on the screen and see straight away where the cancer is and measure how severe it is. The scan is better than blood tests, which don't tell us in which bones the cancer is located. It also reduces the need for uncomfortable biopsies, which don't reveal the extent or severity of the disease."