Stage I multiple myeloma: value of MR imaging of the bone marrow in the determination of prognosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prognostic value of bone marrow findings at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in patients with stage I multiple myeloma.


METHODS
In 24 patients with stage I multiple myeloma, findings from MR imaging of the vertebral, pelvic, and femoral bone marrow were analyzed and correlated to spontaneous outcome. Progressive multiple myeloma was observed in 12 patients and stable stage I multiple myeloma was observed in 12 after a follow-up period of 4-67 months (median, 27 months).


RESULTS
In 17 patients, MR imaging findings were normal, and in seven patients, bone marrow abnormalities were depicted on MR images. Of the 12 patients with progressive multiple myeloma, six had bone marrow abnormalities that were depicted at MR imaging. In the group of patients with progressive multiple myeloma, the six patients with abnormal MR imaging findings showed earlier disease progression (median, 10 months) than the six patients in whom MR imaging findings were normal (median, 32 months) (P < .0001). Multivariate analysis of clinical and MR imaging findings showed that MR imaging (P = .006) were two independent factors in the prediction of disease progression.


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging of the bone marrow in patients with stage I multiple myeloma is an independent factor in the prediction of disease progression.
Van de Berg
B C
BC
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, St Luc University Hospital UCL, Brussels, Belgium.
Lecouvet
F E
FE
Michaux
L
L
Labaisse
M
M
Malghem
J
J
Jamart
J
J
Maldague
B E
BE
Ferrant
A
A
Michaux
J L
JL
D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors