Current role of CT and whole body MRI in multiple myeloma
Abstract
Radiology of bone lacunae can help differentiate between smouldering and symptomatic myeloma. CT seems to be more apt for this purpose than a standard X-ray but appropriate principles must be applied when performing and reading it. Lesions visible in an MRI above all allow myelomas to be monitored during treatment. Because of the radiation dose, whole body CT must be performed with a slice thickness of 2mm, increments of 1.5 and intensity of 40mAs. It should be read associating the reading of the axial slices with reading the mean coronal and sagittal projections of a thickness of 2cm. Whole body MRI must associate T1-weighted sagittal, STIR coronal and b-800 diffusion-weighted axial sequences. Changes in the disease correlate with changes in the diffusion, STIR and T1-weighted images interpreted together. While whole body CT has a place in clinical routine, the indication for whole body MRI still needs to be clarified and has yet to take its place in research protocols.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Benign periarticular, bone and joint lipomatous lesions
- A review of the physiological and histological effects of laser osteotomy
- Quality of bone healing: perspectives and assessment techniques
- Effects of bioactive lipids and lipoproteins on bone
- Bone structure and function
- Quantifying bone structure, micro-architecture, and pathophysiology with MRI.
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.