[Current imaging techniques in multiple myeloma].

Abstract

The detection of skeletal involvement in multiple myeloma (MM) is often difficult. Plain radiographs have a very low yield in depicting skeletal lesions when they are confined to the bone marrow. The major advantage of bone scintigraphy is the ability to evaluate the entire skeletal system and to detect the bone lesions with a single examination. However it is well known that the false negative bone scan may occur frequently in MM. The advantage of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the availability to detect myeloma foci within the spine, particularly early epidural involvement and spinal cord compression due to fracture. MRI is becoming increasingly routine in the work-up of patients with MM. Further investigations are required for the improved assessment of therapeutic response, correct diagnosis of diffuse bone marrow infiltration and distinction between pathologic and osteoporotic compression fractures.