A REGISTRATION FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATION OF T1, T2 AND DWI SIGNAL INTENSITIES IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA

摘要

Objective. In this study we point out the Diffusion-Weighted Imaging (DWI) role in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM), comparing its signal values (SV) (Sommer et al., 2010) with the standard imaging modalities T1, T2. We further evaluate how SV change in relation with the percentage of plasma cells infiltration evaluated through bone marrow biopsy (BMB). Methods. Since March 2008 23 patients with average age of 61 (± 11) years old, 11 females and 12 males, have been investigated before their own therapy with a whole body MRI protocol, concerning a whole body T1, a whole body T2 and a whole body DWI and a BMB. An experienced radiologist defined for each patient two volume of interests (VOIs): onto the main lesions and on healthy bones (Femur and Homerus). After that, we have subdivided the full population by a clinical threshold of 25% on cells infiltration percentage; then, we analysed statistical differences in the 2 groups (A, B). Results. We found out that DWI voxels intensities in group A (infiltration ≤ 25%) were higher than group B, this gap had to be considered statistically different (P ≤ 0.05).