Positive findings on bone scan in multiple myeloma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiology

Background:

• Multiple myeloma frequently causes osteolytic bone lesions.
• Conventional skeletal radiography is standard for detecting these lesions.
• The role of bone scintigraphy in multiple myeloma diagnosis is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of bone scintigraphy in diagnosing multiple myeloma bone lesions.
• To compare the sensitivity of bone scans versus radiography for detecting osteolytic lesions.

Main Methods:

• Case report of multiple myeloma with high technetium Tc 99m methylene diphosphonate uptake in bone lesions.
• Literature review comparing conventional radiography and bone scans for myeloma-related osteolytic lesions.

Main Results:

• Bone scintigraphy demonstrated high uptake in the reported myeloma bone lesions.
• Literature review indicates bone scintigraphy is more sensitive than radiography for detecting lesions in the ribs, scapula, and spine.
• Many clinicians underestimate the role of bone scintigraphy in myeloma detection.

Conclusions:

• Bone scintigraphy is a sensitive tool for detecting multiple myeloma osteolytic bone lesions.
• Nuclear medicine imaging, specifically bone scans, should be considered in the diagnostic workup of multiple myeloma.
• Radiologists and oncologists should be aware of the enhanced sensitivity of bone scintigraphy in specific skeletal regions.