Magnetic resonance imaging of bone marrow in lymphoproliferative disorders: correlation with bone marrow biopsy

In a prospective clinical study 10 normal volunteers and 30 patients with lymphoma--11 patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma and 19 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (11 low grade, 8 high grade)--were examined. Proximal femora, pelvis and lumbar spine were imaged with a 1.5 tesla superconducting MR imaging system (Siemens Magnetom). Areas of malignant infiltration in the bone marrow were clearly detected by visual and/or quantitative assessment. In most cases bone marrow involvement was demonstrated by both magnetic resonance imaging and bone marrow biopsies. However, in three of 30 patients magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of lymphomatous involvement despite normal bone marrow histology. In one patient bone marrow cytology revealed malignant infiltration in the absence of MRI abnormalities. Thus, MRI is a sensitive method for detecting bone marrow infiltration by lymphoma.