The Current Research Status of Imaging Assessment of Bone Disease in Multiple Myeloma

Abstract

With rapid advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of bone disease in multiple myeloma (MBD), Imaging assessments play a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of MBD. Traditional whole-body X-ray has been commonly used. Whole-body low-dose computed tomography, whole-body MRI, and 18F-FDG PET/CT are more sophisticated techniques that have been recommended for the initial assessment of MM-related lytic bone lesions. MRI remains the gold standard for bone marrow involvement detection, while PET/CT offers valuable prognostic data and is preferred for therapy response assessment. Diffusion-weighted MR has been shown to be superior to both skeletal X-ray and MRI of the spine for detecting focal lesions in MBD. Diffusion-weighted MR is a functional imaging technique that effectively detects bone disease changes according to treatment response and can be used to monitor disease response. Advanced imaging techniques have significantly improved the sensitivity for detecting MBD. This review focuses on the imaging modalities available for MBD patient management, highlighting advantages, disadvantages, and applications of each.