title: The role of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in evaluating the response to treatment in patients with multiple myeloma.
abstract: Background and Aim. Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) is well recognized as a powerful diagnostic tool in the initial staging of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The aim of this paper is to perform a systematic review about the usefulness of FDG-PET or PET/CT in evaluating the response to treatment in patients with MM. Methods. The scientific literature about the role of FDG-PET or PET/CT in evaluating the response to treatment in patients affected by MM was systematically reviewed. Results. Ten studies about the role of FDG-PET or PET/CT in evaluating treatment response in MM were retrieved and discussed. Conclusions. FDG-PET or PET/CT seems to be helpful in assessing the response to treatment in patients with MM and in the evaluation of possible sites of recurrent or progressive disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caldarella
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Treglia
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Isgrò
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Treglia
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giordano