MULTIPLE-MYELOMA - SCREENING BY GD-DTPA ENHANCED OPPOSED-PHASE GRADIENT-ECHO MR IMAGING

MR imaging was performed in 19 patients with proven multiple myeloma. Both plain and Gd-DTPA enhanced in-phase and opposed-phase gradient-echo techniques were used [0.1 mmol Magnevist(R)/kg body weight]. Plain, opposed-phase imaging demonstrated more lesions than plain in-phase imaging [35 vs. 16]; enhanced opposed-phase imaging demonstrated more lesions than plain opposed-phase and enhanced in-phase imaging [47 vs. 35 and 17 lesions]. These results suggest that enhanced opposed-phase images which have a high contrast between normal and infiltrated bone marrow are especially suited for MR screening in multiple myeloma.