[Functional magnetic resonance tomography in the diagnosis and therapy monitoring in multiple myeloma]

Abstract

Aim of the study: Investigation of the quantitative microcirculation parameters amplitude A and exchange rate constant k21 determined by contrast-enhanced dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (d-MRI) in multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: d-MRT of lumbar spine and right spina iliaca superior posterior of 16 controls (ctr) and 35 patients with active MM. Generation of colour-coded images of microcirculation parameters superimposed onto static MRI images.

Results: Amplitude A and k21 parameters were significantly increased in patients with MM and down modulated by therapy in 7 of 8 MM cases in a follow-up investigation [p < 0.01; median Actr = 0.2 (0.09-0.4); median AMM = 0.93 (0.2-1.52); median k21ctr = 0.09 min-1 (0.03-0.9); median k21MM = 4.57 min-1 (0.21-23.8)]. Thirteen patients revealed a "diffuse" and 22 a "focal" pattern of distribution of microcirculation parameters. Bone marrow biopsies in 8 cases revealed an correlation between bone marrow plasma cell infiltration and increased microcirculation parameters.

Conclusion: Identification of microcirculation changes by d-MRI is a novel imaging technique for the detection and monitoring of MM bone lesions.