Imaging of Multiple Myeloma.

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Hematology
• Oncology

Background:

• Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell malignancy impacting bone marrow.
• Accurate diagnosis and monitoring rely heavily on medical imaging.
• Understanding precursor diseases is vital for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review multiple myeloma, precursor diseases, and current imaging modalities.
• To discuss the advantages, limitations, and prognostic implications of various imaging techniques.
• To provide an overview of imaging's role in multiple myeloma management.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of multiple myeloma and imaging techniques.
• Analysis of cross-sectional imaging, including CT, MRI, and PET/CT.
• Evaluation of imaging findings in the context of current scientific literature.

Main Results:

• Cross-sectional imaging supersedes conventional X-ray skeletal surveys.
• Whole-body CT effectively detects osteolytic lesions.
• MRI is superior for identifying bone marrow infiltration and staging precursor diseases.
• PET/CT offers functional insights for treatment response evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Conventional X-rays are now considered obsolete for multiple myeloma.
• Whole-body CT is standard for detecting osteolysis.
• MRI is the most sensitive tool for bone marrow assessment and precursor disease evaluation.
• PET/CT is valuable for monitoring treatment efficacy and disease progression.