[New diagnostic imaging approaches in multiple myeloma]

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells, mainly involving bone marrow. To properly stage and manage patients with MM the clinician needs at first a complete skeletal survey. Today none of diagnostic imaging methods is able to answer alone to all questions in staging, treatment and follow up. Bone scintigraphy is affected by a low sensitivity. Tc-99m MIBI has been proposed in staging and in follow-up , with most relevant clinical information deriving from the correlation of its whole body uptake's distribution with extent and activity of the disease. PET - FDG has been proposed in MM for its skill to detect whole-body metabolic active disease, producing relevant information in staging and prognosis. First studies demonstrated that PET-FDG is more sensitive than other imaging modalities for localizing extra medullary sites of disease.