Efficacy of multidetector row computed tomography of the spine in patients with multiple myeloma: comparison with magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy of multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) for detection of spinal bone marrow involvement in patients with multiple myeloma.


METHODS
Ten patients with multiple myeloma stage III underwent MDCT and MRI of the spine and FDG-PET. The number and location of lesions detected by 3 modalities were recorded, and a lesion-by-lesion analysis was completed, using McNemar test. For MDCT, image analysis was performed according to the type of lesion (established by Laroche et al), and the efficacy of lesion detection was compared with that of the MRI and FDG-PET. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The MDCT, MRI, and FDG-PET detected the following numbers of lesions: 102 of 140 vertebrae, 95 of 140 vertebrae, and 84 of 140 vertebrae, respectively. The difference between the abilities of MDCT and MRI to detect lesions was not statistically significant (P = 0.289). However, the difference in effectiveness between MDCT and FDG-PET was statistically significant (P < 0.001). For small osteolytic lesions, less than 5 mm, the difference in effectiveness between MDCT and MRI was also statistically significant (P = 0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
The MDCT is very sensitive in detecting small osteolytic lesions in the spine, as compared with MRI and FDG-PET.
Hur
Jin
J
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
Yoon
Choon-Sik
CS
Ryu
Young Hoon
YH
Yun
Mi Jin
MJ
Suh
Jin-Suck
JS
D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA