Clinical utility of PET/MRI in multiple myeloma

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI), especially in comparison with PET/computed tomography (CT), which has been widely used in clinical practice in multiple myeloma.

Method: F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET/MRI and PET/ CT studies were done at baseline and when at least a partial response to treatment was achieved. These were done for newly-diagnosed myeloma patients who have not had more than 1 cycle of anti-myeloma treatment, or for relapsed and/or refractory myeloma patients before the start of next line of therapy.

Results: PET/MRI correlated significantly with PET/CT, in terms of number of lesions detected, standardised uptake value (SUVmean and SUVmax, both at baseline and post-treatment. PET/MRI and PET/CT correlated with survival at baseline, but not post-treatment.

Conclusion: In this study, PET/MRI was more sensitive in detecting early disease and disease resolution post-treatment, compared with PET/CT. However, PET/MRI was less sensitive in detecting lesions in the ribs, clavicle and skull.

Keywords: cancer; diagnostic radiology; haematology; multiple myeloma; nuclear medicine; oncology.