The role of 18F-FDG PET/CT before and after the treatment of multiple myeloma: Our clinical experience

Abstract

<p>To evaluate the role of FDG PET/CT before and after the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) in our clinical practice, data from 32 patients (before therapy: 10 patients; after therapy: 22 patients) and from 46 examinations (before therapy: 10; after: 36) with a median time of follow-up of 24 months (before the therapy) and 26 months (after the therapy) were evaluated. FDG PET/CT positivity was characterized by SUVmax >2.5, SUVmax >4.2, focal lesions (FLs) >3, and presence of extramedullary disease (EMD). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and the median overall survival (OS) for FDG PET/CT positive patients were shorter than for negative patients, according to all parameters. Before the therapy, significant correlation was found only between PFS and the number of FLs (<em>p</em> = 0.033). After the treatment, significant correlation was found between PFS and SUVmax (cut-off value 2.5: p < 0.001; cut off value 4.2: p < 0.001), between PFS and the number of FLs (<em>p</em> = 0.009), and between PFS and the presence of EMD (p < 0.001). Significant correlation was found between OS and SUVmax (cut-off value = 2.5, <em>p</em> < 0.001 and 4.2, <em>p</em> = 0.009), between OS and the number of FLs (<em>p</em> = 0.007), and between OS and the presence of EMD (<em>p</em> = 0.022). Our results confirmed the reliability and good prognostic value of FDG PET/CT in MM.</p>

The relationship between bone marrow involvement on 18F-FDG PET/CT and bone marrow biopsy in patients with multiple myeloma and other plasma cell neoplasms

“…12 It also provides important prognostic information. 11,13 The 18 F-FDG PET/CT can also be combined with sensitive bone marrow-based techniques to detect minimal residual disease (MRD) inside and outside the bone marrow, helping to identify patients defined as being imaging MRD negative. 8,12 The 18 F-FDG PET/CT has been shown to be a complimentary measure of bone marrow involvement in lymphomas, particularly in Hodgkin lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma.…”

Multimodal Molecular Imaging: Current Status and Future Directions

“…It is especially addressed to reveal abnormalities in cells and molecules which cause the disease, rather than the final anatomical and structural abnormality caused by cellular or molecular changes [ 1 ]. Various modern imaging technologies have been widely used to monitor structural, functional, and molecular changes in cancer tissues, including optical imaging (either by bioluminescence or fluorescence) [ 2 ], computed tomography (CT) [ 3 ], magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [ 4 ], positron emission tomography (PET) [ 5 ], single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) [ 6 ], and ultrasound (US) [ 7 ]. Molecular imaging can detect lesions and determine the nature of earlier lesions more accurately compared to conventional imaging, so that clinicians can effectively intervene in the occurrence and formation stage of the disease [ 8 ].…”