Multiple myeloma evaluated with 201Tl scintigraphy compared with bone scintigraphy.

Abstract

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of 201Tl chloride scintigraphy in the diagnostic evaluation of 20 patients with multiple myeloma (19/20 patients) or extramedullary plasmacytoma (1/20 patients) in comparison with bone scintigraphy. METHODS: Both 201Tl and bone scintigraphy were performed to obtain planar images on the same instrument. RESULTS: 201Tl scintigraphy showed increased uptake in 15 of 20 patients (75%) and was negative in 5 of 20 patients (25%). In addition, 201Tl scintigraphy of multiple myeloma was more useful in detecting the lesions in 11 of 17 patients and less useful in 6 of 17 patients than bone scintigraphy. CONCLUSION: The combination of 201Tl and bone scintigraphy, compared with bone scintigraphy alone, shows promise in more accurately diagnosing multiple myeloma.