[The correlation between findings of whole-body diffusion weighted imaging and clinical result in patients with...

Objective: To explore the relationship between the findings of whole body diffusion weighted imaging (WBDWI) and the clinical result in patients with multiple myeloma. Methods: A total of 43 cases of multiple myeloma patients were retrospectively collected from May 2015 to May 2017 in Tianjin First Central Hospital.Twenty-nine cases were male and 14 were female. The median age was 54 years old with a range from 36 to 73 years old. The patients were divided into two groups with and without abnormal findings pending on whole body diffusion weighted imaging. The clinical data and the ADC value were compared between the two groups, as well as comparison in patients with abnormal findings between pre-and post-treatment. Results: In 43 patients, normal findings on WBDWI were found in 10 cases, 7 males, 3 females, age (59±9) years old, and abnormal findings in 33 cases, 22 males, 11 females, age (57±10) years old.No statistical differences of age and gender were found between two groups (P>0.05) .The ratio of plasma cells and the proportion of β(2) microspheres in patients with abnormal WBDWI (50.0% (14.0%, 78.0%) , 4.8 (2.7, 7.7) mg/L)were significantly higher than those in the normal group(5.0% (2.5%, 15.0%) , 2.4 (2.0, 3.7) mg/L) (P<0.05).ADC value in different body parts of abnormal group including costal ((0.66±0.15)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), sternal bone((0.71±0.20)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), clavicles((0.67±0.17)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), thoracic vertebra((0.63±0.17)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), lumber vertebra((0.69±0.20)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), pelvic((0.83±0.36)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), proximal humerus((0.76±0.13)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), proximal femur((0.64±0.17)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), shaft of femur((0.70±0.22)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), proximal tibia((0.97±0.18)×10(-3) mm(2)/s), shaft of tibia((0.83±0.18)×10(-3) mm(2)/s) which were significantly higher than those of normal group (all P<0.05). The albumin concentration of the patients after treatment was significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion: Different imaging findings on WBDWI can reflect clinical different result in patients with multiple myeloma, and when WBDWI is normal, the clinical symptoms are mild. When abnormal findings detected on WBDWI, the clinical symptoms are still severe although albumin concentration increased after treatment.