Imaging analysis of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with multiple myeloma

Abstract

Objective To analyze the imaging characteristics of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Methods Sixty-eight patients (41 males, 27 females, age (61.5±17.2) years) with pathologically proven MM were retrospectively reviewed between January 2011 and August 2016. Imaging characteristics of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients were analyzed. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), score of the bone involvement (bones of whole body were classified into 10 groups, and when 1 group was involved, the score was 1), the number of bone lesions and soft tissue swelling around bone lesions were investigated. Results A total of 1 310 lesions were detected in 68 MM patients. The SUVmax varied widely and mild metabolic activity (2.5≤SUVmax<5.0) was observed in the highest proportion of MM patients (49.8%, 652/1 310). The SUVmax of MM patients was 6.63±3.02. The score of bone involvement was 4.49±3.01. The number of bone lesions was 10.50(3.00, 33.00), and soft tissue swelling around bone lesions was observed in 22 patients. Conclusions There are special imaging characteristics of 18F-FDG PET/CT in MM patients, such as multiple osteolytic lesions with mild to moderate metabolic activity, clear boundary and extensive bone involvement, and lesions usually limit to the skeletal system. The characteristics are of certain value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MM. Key words: Multiple myeloma; Positron-emission tomography; Tomography, X-ray computed; Deoxyglucose