RADIOGRAPHIC AND RADIONUCLIDE IMAGING IN MULTIPLE-MYELOMA - THE ROLE OF GALLIUM SCINTIGRAPHY - CONCISE COMMUNICATION

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 22  (3) , 232-236
Abstract
Patients [18] with multiple myeloma were studied using radiographs of the skeletal system, technetium phosphate bone scans and 67Ga scintigraphy. A total of 94 sites were used as the basis for comparison in these 18 patients. Radiographic sensitivity on a patient basis was 94% and was 82% on a site basis. Bone scans were positive in 78% of patients and in 46% of sites. Ga scans were positive in 56% of patients and in 40% of sites. In 5 of the 18 patients, Ga scans showed activity in abnormal sites with a greater lesion-to-nonlesion ratio than did the bone scan. In this subgroup of patients, the disease was fulminant and all died within 3 mo. of the study. The finding of high Ga uptake in osseous sites that are normal or only slightly abnormal on bone scan has served to identify a subgroup of patients with rapidly progressive disease who may benefit from alternative treatment modalities such as radiation therapy.