scholarly journals Diffusion-Weighted MRI—The Way Forward for MRI in Myeloma?

Hemato ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 672-679
Author(s):  
Jens Hillengass ◽  
Maximilian Merz ◽  
Ronald Alberico ◽  
Majid Chalian

Multiple myeloma and other plasma cell disorders infiltrate the bone marrow in different patterns. While some patients show a homogeneous distribution of the clonal plasma cells others present with focal accumulations, commonly called focal lesions. Novel imaging techniques can provide information on these infiltration patterns and, due to their low invasiveness, can be performed repeatedly and therefore be used for monitoring. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a high sensitivity for bone marrow assessment but cannot safely differentiate between active and inactive lesions. Therefore, positron emission tomography, especially combined with computed tomography (PET/CT), has been more widely used, at least for the monitoring of treatment response. Comparative, but mostly retrospective studies, have shown that functional MRI techniques, namely diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), which assesses the movement of water molecules, can evaluate tissue cellularity with high sensitivity, which challenges the dominance of PET/CT in treatment response assessment. This review will discuss the benefits and challenges of DWI and compare it to other available imaging techniques used in patients with monoclonal plasma cell disorders.

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 19-20
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Hill ◽  
Baris Turkbey ◽  
Evrim Turkbey ◽  
Candis Morrison ◽  
Peter Choyke ◽  
...  

Introduction Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI), including multiplanar multisequence technique with diffusion weighted images, is a novel imaging technique being evaluated for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). WB-MRI is ideal for this population due to its high sensitivity for bone marrow signal changes and full anatomic coverage from vertex to mid-thighs. It is well established that patients with unequivocal focal lesions on MRI have worse outcomes. Currently the IMWG recommends that all patients with smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) undergo WB-MRI (or whole spine MRI if WB-MRI is not available) to rule out two or more focal lesions which would classify the patient as having symptomatic myeloma requiring treatment. There is a clear benefit of using MRI for the detection of early focal myeloma lesions however less is known about findings in the SMM population. Detection of subtle findings such as one small focal lesion or heterogeneous bone marrow in WB-MRI has unknown clinical significance that needs to be further evaluated. This study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity of WB-MRI compared to other highly sensitive functional imaging modalities in patients with SMM both at baseline and after treatment. Methods Imaging of patients with WB-MRI performed at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Myeloma Program were reviewed and compared to whole spine MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT completed at the same timepoint. The majority of patients were being evaluated for enrollment on clinical trials. Patients had undergone a WB-MRI with a 3-Tesla system either as a baseline study, after completion of induction treatment, or during follow up determined by the time DWI became available at our institution. The imaging protocol included sagittalT1 weighted (W) and Short tau inversion recovery (STIR) for spine and coronal, axial T1W and axial T2 TSE pulse sequences. The functional component included diffusion weighted imaging in the axial plane (b=0 and 900sec/mm2). Radiological interpretation was performed by two readers using myeloma response assessment and diagnosis system (My-RADS) {Messiou, 2019 #340}. WB-MRIs were categorized as positive if focal lesions or diffuse/heterogenous pattern of bone marrow infiltration were present. Similarly, 18F-FDG PET/CTs and whole spine MRIs were classified as positive if focal lesions or diffuse/heterogenous pattern of bone marrow were present. Results A total of 34 patients with SMM and 5 patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) had sequential WB-MRI and 18F-FDG PET/CT. Figure 1 summarizes the radiological data of the SMM population. Eleven of these patients had PET/CT, whole spine MRI, and WB-MRI at baseline. Twenty-five patients had PET/CT and WB-MRI completed after at least 8 cycles of treatment. Thirteen patients had consistently negative imaging at baseline, 7 of which also had negative imaging after treatment, while 2 patients were found to have new lesions seen on WB-MRI after treatment. Six patients had resolution of positive imaging seen at baseline after treatment. Among the 17 patients with a positive WB-MRI, 12 (71%; 95% CI 47% - 87%) had a negative correlating PET/CT. Among 5 patients with positive PET/CT at the same time point as a WB-MRI, only 1 (20%; 95% CI 2% - 64%) correlated to a negative WB-MRI. Figure 2 depicts findings from patients with RRMM for comparison. All imaging modalities showed multiple focal findings in all 5 patients. Conclusions This study depicts the high sensitivity of WB-MRI in the SMM population. Such a high sensitivity is especially needed in SMM and early myeloma when disease burden is lower and the decision for treatment is being considered. In comparison to the RRMM population where all three imaging modalities easily detect multiple focal lesions, WB-MRI tends to identify myeloma involvement in the SMM patients more than the other imaging techniques. This suggests the importance of utilizing WB-MRI when diagnosing SMM. In the SMM population, the prognostic significance of lesions that are discrepant between MRI and FDG PET/CT is not yet known. Further follow up is needed to evaluate any difference in hard endpoints such as progression free survival between patients with positive findings described by WB-MRI. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3543-3543
Author(s):  
Camila Mosci ◽  
Fernando Vieira Pericole ◽  
Allan de Oliveira Santos ◽  
Mariana Cunha Lima ◽  
Elba Cristina Camargo Etchebehere ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm, characterized by plasma cell infiltration inside the bone marrow, secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulin (paraprotein), and end organ damage including lytic lesions in the bones. About 80-90% of myeloma patients suffer from osteolytic lesions during the course of the disease. 18F-FDG PET/CT is an imaging technique capable to detect active disease in patients in multiple myeloma (MM) and can be helpful in staging and prognosis. However, its routine use is still hampered by several factors, including high cost, reimbursement issues, lack of cost-effectiveness studies and limited availability. 99mTc-sestamibi (MIBI) has also been proposed as a potential tracer in MM evaluation and is more accessible with lower costs. The aim of this study was to compare these two imaging modalities at staging disease and their relation with clinical data. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four patients with newly diagnostic MM (30 male; 34 female) were submitted to 18F-FDG PET/CT and 99mTc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT before treatment. Whole body PET/CT images were acquired 60 minutes after FDG administration and anterior and posterior whole-body scans (WBS) plus SPECT/CT of chest and abdomen were obtained 10 minutes after MIBI injection. Number of focal lesions, bone marrow involvement, contiguous soft tissue impairment and extra osseous lesions were recorded. Number of focal lesions was classified in 3 groups: 0 (no lesions); 1 (1-3 lesions); 2 (4-10); 3 (more than 10). A visual degree of uptake was defined for bone marrow involvement: comparison to liver on PET/CT and to myocardium on MIBI. Standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the hottest lesion of each patient was registered. Potentials factors contributing to progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed with Cox regression model combining baseline clinical data (including renal function, anemia, hypercalcemia, LDH, bone marrow plasma cell percentage and ISS (I, II or III)) along with PET/CT and MIBI scan status. Results: PET/CT was positive in 61 patients (95%) and MIBI in 59 subjects (92%; P = 0.15). WBS was positive in 56 patients while WBS plus SPECT/CT was positive in 59 (p= 0.08). PET/CT detected extra osseous lesions in 4 patients and sestamibi in 1 subject. Contiguous soft tissue involvement was found in 29 and 24 patients on PET/CT and MIBI, respectively (p=0.05). PET/CT detected much more focal lesions than MIBI: 13, 11, 16 and 24 patients were in group 0, 1, 2 and 3 on PET/CT and 30, 18, 6 and 10 were on the same groups respectively on MIBI (p: 0.0001). In the figure below, a comparison between 99mTc-Sestamibi WBS (A) and 18F-FDG PET/CT (B) at staging in a 67 years-old male. SUVmax were statistically different in subjects who presented elevated LDH (p= 0.02). Seventy-five percent and 100% of patients with elevated LDH had contiguous soft tissue involvement on MIBI and PET/CT respectively. More focal lesions on PET/CT were found in patients with hypercalcemia (p=0.02), however this correlation was not observed on MIBI (p=0.45). Renal insufficiency was a negative prognostic factor for PFS (HR: 2.25). The same was observed with advanced ISS staging (HR: 4.29). However, only advanced ISS staging (III) and extramedullary disease detected by MIBI were independent predictors of worse PFS. Conclusion: There was no difference in the detection of active disease when comparing FDG PET/CT and MIBI SPECT/CT in MM staging, although the first one detected more number of lesions. Including SPECT/CT to planar images on MIBI did also not improve the number of positive scans. Elevated LDH and hypercalcemia were the only clinical parameters related to higher number of bone lesions while ISS staging (III) and extramedullary disease detected by MIBI were independent predictors of worse PFS. Our study demonstrated that sestamibi WBI detects less volume of disease compared to PET/CT, however it may substitute PET/CT in centers where it is not available or there is no reimbursement for MM staging. Figure. Figure. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 649
Author(s):  
Christos Sachpekidis ◽  
Matthias Türk ◽  
Antonia Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss

We report on a 52-year-old patient with an initial diagnosis of smoldering myeloma (SMM), who was monitored by means of dynamic and static positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) with the radiotracer 1⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG). Baseline PET/CT revealed no pathological signs. Six months later, a transition to symptomatic, multiple myeloma (MM) was diagnosed. The transition was not accompanied by focal, hypermetabolic lesions on PET/CT. However, a diffusely increased 18F-FDG uptake in the bone marrow, accompanied by a marked increase of semi-quantitative (standardized uptake value, SUV) and quantitative, pharmacokinetic 18F-FDG parameters, was demonstrated. After successful treatment, including tandem autologous transplantation, the diffuse uptake in the bone marrow as well as the semi-quantitative and quantitative parameters showed a marked remission. This response was also confirmed by the clinical follow-up of the patient. These findings suggest that in MM a diffuse 18F-FDG uptake in the bone marrow may indeed reflect an actual bone marrow infiltration by plasma cells. Moreover, SUV values and kinetic parameters, not only from myeloma lesions but also from random bone marrow samples, may be used for MM monitoring. This could be particularly helpful in the follow-up of myeloma patients negative for 18F-FDG-avid focal lesions.


2021 ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
N. A. Ognerubov ◽  
T. S. Antipova ◽  
A. V. Blokhin

The aim of this work was to present the results of a retrospective study of 35 patients with morphologically diagnosed diffuse B-cell large cell lymphoma with bone marrow damage from 22 to 82 years old, median 63 years. There were 27 men and 8 women. After histological confirmation, all patients performed positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG PET/CT) followed by bone marrow trepanobiopsy. Specific bone marrow lesions were detected in 100% of cases with PET/CT and in 68.6% of cases with trepanobiopsy. Diffuse bone marrow damage was detected in 24 (68.6%) cases, focal – in 10 (28.6%) patients and in 1 (2.8%) patient – a mixed variant. The data obtained indicate the predominance of diffuse damage to the bone marrow. The statistical analysis established the value of the standardized maximum absorption coefficient of FDG SUVmax for bone marrow damage equal more than 3.58. Sensitivity was at 90% and a specificity was at 92%. The sensitivity of the PET/CT method is higher with focal lesions of the bone marrow than with diffuse. SUVmax was 10.26 ± 1.67 and 2.86 ± 0.09, respectively. The differences between them are significant (p < 0.0001). PET/CT is a non-invasive method of metabolic imaging allows you to assess the condition of the bone marrow and other extranodal symptoms of the disease at the stage of diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. It can replace the traditional method of bone marrow biopsy with diffuse B-cell large cell lymphoma.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
N. Steiner ◽  
R. Hajek ◽  
D. Nachbaur ◽  
B. Borjan ◽  
S. Sevcikova ◽  
...  

Introduction. The prognosis of multiple myeloma is still unfavorable due to inherent characteristics of the disease and the often-delayed diagnosis due to widespread and unspecific symptoms such as back pain and fatigue. Therefore, a simple diagnostic blood test would be helpful to speed up the diagnostic procedure in such patients (pts.). Here, we evaluated the diagnostic value of plasma levels of carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) in the peripheral blood and bone marrow of pts. with plasma cell disorders and in healthy controls. Materials and Methods. Immunoreactive CEACAM6 was determined in the peripheral blood and bone marrow (n=95/100) of pts. with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS: 28/37), newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM: 42/40), and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM: 25/23) by sandwich ELISA. Results. Median CEACAM6 levels in the peripheral blood of pts. with plasma cell disorders were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (healthy controls: 15.2 pg/ml (12.1-17.1); MGUS: 19.0 pg/ml (16.4-22.5); NDMM: 18.0 pg/ml (13.4-21.2); and RRMM: 18.9 pg/ml (15.2-21.5); p<0.001). Plasma levels of CEACAM6 discriminated healthy subjects from MGUS/NDMM pts. (AUC=0.71, 95% CI: 0.6-0.8); i.e., a CEACAM6 level>17.3 pg/ml has an 82% (95% CI: 70-90) predictive probability for the identification of MGUS or NDMM. Moreover, CEACAM6 levels in the bone marrow were significantly higher in RRMM pts. than in NDMM pts. (p=0.04), suggesting a role of this molecule in disease progression. Conclusion. CEACAM6 plasma levels can noninvasively identify pts. with a plasma cell disorder and should be evaluated prospectively as a potential diagnostic marker. Moreover, due to high CEACAM6 levels in the bone marrow in RRMM pts., this adhesion molecule might be a therapeutic target in multiple myeloma pts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-39
Author(s):  
Ben Shachar ◽  
Anca Prica ◽  
Reut Anconina ◽  
Asmaa Hawsawy ◽  
Pamela MacCrostie ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-109
Author(s):  
N. Withofs ◽  
C. Nanni ◽  
P. Simoni ◽  
S. Fanti ◽  
Y. Beguin ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 4889-4889
Author(s):  
Mohammed Al-sahmani ◽  
Irena Trnavska ◽  
Monika Antosova ◽  
Libuse Antosova ◽  
Jarmila Kissova ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 4889 Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy. It is caused by clonal proliferation of terminally differentiated cells of B-lineage. Morphology assessment including the determination of plasma cell percentage in the bone marrow remains one of the basic diagnostic procedures even in the era of genomics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of the presence of different plasma cell morphological subtypes on overall treatment response and long-term survival. We also analyzed whether this parameter can be correlated to other conventional prognostic/predictive markers. Our cohort consisted of 139 newly diagnosed MM patients who subsequently underwent autologous transplantation (AT) within the 4W and CMG 2002 clinical trials in a single center. Percentage of plasma cell subtypes in the bone marrow was evaluated based on the progressive nucleolus analysis, assessment of nuclear chromatin, and the nucleus/cytoplasm (N/C) ratio. A combination of these elements permits differentiation of eight subtypes P000-P111 and four subclassifications. Mature plasma cells (P000, P001) were found in 42.4% of patients; type I proplasmocytes (P010, P011, P100) in 38.1% of patients; and type II proplasmocytes (P101, P110) in 19.4% of patients. For patients undergoing AT, there was a statistically significant association between the presence of P000 subtype and overall treatment response whereas group of patients with overall therapeutic response ORR has lower number of mature plasma cell (P000 subtype) than patients without treatment response (median 24.0% vs. 36.0%, p = 0.032). Patients with <10% bone marrow infiltration by mature plasmocytes (P000 subtype) had shorter overall survival compared with patients with P000 percentage of ≥37% (46.8 months vs. 77.8 months; p = 0.020). The presence of <3% proplasmocytes (P110 subtype) was associated with longer time to progression compared with P110 ≥31% infiltration (median: 54.6 months vs. 22.4 months; p=0.045). Patients in ISS stage 1 or 2 had lower percentage of P010 (type I) proplasmocytes than patients in stage 3 (11.5% vs. 23.0%; p=0.030). In contrast, higher infiltration of P100 (type I) proplasmocytes and P101 (type II) proplasmocytes was observed in patients in 1-2 ISS stage compared with stage 3 patients (12.0% vs. 6.5%; p=0.015 for P100 and 1.0% vs. 0.0%; p=0.046 for P101). Patients without deletion of 13q14 chromosome had higher bone marrow percentage of mature P000 plasmocytes than patients with deletion of 13q14 (35% vs. 13%; p=0.014). Deletion of 13q14 was also associated with lower number of type II P110 proplasmocytes (36.5% vs. 6.0%; p=0.012). Despite advances in high-tech genomic technologies, evaluation of plasmocyte infiltration of the bone marrow still belongs to basic diagnostic procedures in MM and further morphological subtyping of plasmocytes should provide important prognostic information for MM patients treated by autologous stem cell transplantation. Supported by grants MSM 0021622434, MŠMT LC06027, MZCR NR9225-3 and IGA NR9225-3. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 118 (21) ◽  
pp. 3955-3955
Author(s):  
Christoph Heuck ◽  
Rachael Sexton ◽  
Madhav Dhodapkar ◽  
Qing Zhang ◽  
Saad Usmani ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3955 Background: MGUS counts for the majority of monoclonal gammopathies and can be found in approximately 3% of adults older than 50 years. MGUS progresses to active Multiple Myeloma (MM) at a rate of 1–2% per year, thus imparting an average risk of 25% for progression (PRO) over a lifetime once diagnosed. Unfortunately no single laboratory, molecular or imaging variable can reliably predict PRO. S0120 accrued 363 patients at 69 sites across the US between January 1, 2004 and November 1, 2011, of whom 166 had MGUS and 190 AMM, defined according to IMWG criteria, on whom laboratory, gene expression and imaging studies were collected in a prospective fashion. Here we report the results of imaging studies as predictors of progression. Methods: 262 patients with evaluable follow-up were enrolled at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) site. MRI and PET-CT studies were performed at baseline and serially thereafter until PRO to symptomatic MM defined by standard variables of M-protein, bone marrow findings and CRAB criteria, according to protocol. Lab studies were performed at three months, six months and one year after registration, then every 12 months for a total of 5 years from registration as well as within 14 days of decision to discontinue observation or within 14 days of progression. MRI parameters included the number of focal lesions (FL) recognized by short TI inversion recovery (STIR) analysis of the axial bone marrow along with an account of bone marrow background intensity compared to adjacent muscles (hypo-, iso-, hyper-intense). PET-CT parameters included number of FDG-avid focal lesions (PET-FL), SUVmax of PET-FL, presence of extra-medullary disease (EMD) as well as the FDG avidity score at L5 (SUV-L5). Evaluable baseline MRI and PET studies were available for 235 and 224 patients, respectively. Results: In the 262 eligible patients enrolled and followed at UAMS, the two subgroups of MGUS and AMM differed by definition in M-protein and bone marrow plasmacytosis; in addition, IgA subclass and Hyperdiploidy molecular subgroup were overrepresented in the AMM group. Patients in the AMM group also had higher risk scores defined by the GEP 70-gene risk model (GEP70). At 24 months from study entry, 18.8% of all patients had progressed to MM (25.6% of AMM patients and 8.2% of MGUS patients) and 11.5% had begun MM therapy (15.8% of AMM patients and 4.5% of MGUS patients). Univariate Cox regression strongly indicated that age ≥ 65, serum albumin <3.5g/dL, B2M >+3.5mg/L, detection of any cytogenetic abnormalities (CA), and suppression of uninvolved light chains were adversely associated with time to PRO. The AMM-constituting features, bone marrow plasmacytosis >10%, M-protein >30g/L, and abnormal K/L ratio also conferred greater hazard of PRO. Risk scores > −0.26 and >1.5 for GEP70 and GEP80, respectively, as well as detection of focal lesions by MRI at baseline carried an elevated HR for PRO. A multivariate Cox regression showed only elevated M-protein, abnormal K/L ratio and GEP70 risk scores > =0.26 to be strongly associated with time to PRO. In the context of this MV model, disease subtype (AMM v MGUS) was insignificant. Inclusion of development of MRI-FL or and PET-FL as time-dependent variables showed that they were associated with time to PRO with HRs of 27.12 and 32.18 respectively. Abnormal K/L ratio and elevated M-protein were lost in this MV model. Analyzing variables linked to initiation of MM therapy, abnormal K/L ratio, elevated BM plasmacytosis, elevated M-protein, GEP70 risk scores >-0.26 as well as detection of MRI-FL at baseline (≥1 FL: HR=4.90; ≥3FL: HR=10.00) were univariately significant. On multivariate analysis, abnormal K/L ratio, elevated M-protein and GEP70 risk scores > – 0.26 were associated with time to treatment for MM. Inclusion of development of MRI-FL or PET-FL as a time dependent variable were associated with time to treatment with HRs of 29.12 and 36.50 respectively. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive effort that has used available imaging modalities along with established laboratory and pathology investigations in an attempt to distinguish features predictive of PRO from MGUS to active MM. In addition to the established “high-risk” MGUS/AMM features, we found that presence of MRI-FL at baseline, presence of CA and GEP70 scores >-0.26 carry a higher risk of PRO. Disclosures: Shaughnessy: Myeloma Health, Celgene, Genzyme, Novartis: Consultancy, Employment, Equity Ownership, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties. Barlogie:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; IMF: Consultancy, Honoraria; MMRF: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genzyme: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; NCI: Research Funding; Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Centocor: Research Funding; Onyx: Research Funding; Icon: Research Funding.


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