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[Infiltration patterns of plasmacytomas in magnetic resonance tomography]
1Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München.
Purpose:
To define the different infiltration patterns in the spine in multiple myeloma, in correlation with histological and clinical findings. Quantitative signal evaluation with contrast media (Gd-DTPA). To compare the results in MRI with X-ray films.
Material And Methods:
61 patients with proven multiple myeloma and 50 controls were examined (1.0 Tesla, T1-w SE, opposed phase GE images).
Results:
Five infiltration patterns with different clinical stages were detected: normal bone marrow (11%) in cases of low interstitial marrow infiltration (biopsy), pure diffuse infiltration (25%), focal involvement (33%), combined diffuse/focal infiltration (23%) and a "salt-and pepper" pattern (8%). In diffuse plasmacytoma the 40% signal intensity increase was modification of diffuse infiltration. MRI proved to be more sensitive than radiography.
Conclusion:
MRI is able to show the type and the extension of bone marrow infiltration in multiple myeloma. Diffuse involvement can be objective with gadopentetate dimeglumine.