My father is currently being worked up for multiple myeloma. He had a bone scan today that showed arthritic bones and it said scan not woresome for bone mets. This is good sign that my dad doesnt Have multiple myeloma right? But isn't there a difference between a general bone scan with dye and Thistles spec scan? I know we are still waiting for the UPEP and SPEP. I was just wondering could a bone scan not nessessarily show multiple myeloma? is there still a chance he could have it?
Chrissy
Forums
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
Thistle is not supposed to be in there! Spec bone scan is what I meant
-
shehadi88
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
Hi shehadl88
The Bone scan may not show anything. The SPEP and UPEP should be a good start. He should also have a Bone Marrow Biopsy. If he has a plasma cell percentage of more than 10% in his Bone Marrow and Monoclonal proteins in his Serum and/or His Urine but no bone involvment then he may have Smoldering Myeloma as long as his Kidney function is good(creatinine), his Hemoglobin is not low and his cacium level in his Blood is normal. These are called the CRAB features. Try this link for more info. https://myelomabeacon.org/search/crab
Hope this helps and good luck
Art
The Bone scan may not show anything. The SPEP and UPEP should be a good start. He should also have a Bone Marrow Biopsy. If he has a plasma cell percentage of more than 10% in his Bone Marrow and Monoclonal proteins in his Serum and/or His Urine but no bone involvment then he may have Smoldering Myeloma as long as his Kidney function is good(creatinine), his Hemoglobin is not low and his cacium level in his Blood is normal. These are called the CRAB features. Try this link for more info. https://myelomabeacon.org/search/crab
Hope this helps and good luck
Art
-
Art - Name: Art
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12/2011
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
Although the full bone X-Ray survey has been the gold standard in the past for detection of bone lesion's it is no longer considered adequate by most major cancer centers which usually specify MRI or Pet scan as a backup to this test in part because the x-rays cannot detect small lesion's to a specific degree.
In fact the new Dore-Salmon PLUS staging system (2006) now makes imaging techniques as part of the criteria for staging of multiple myeloma.
Billy1
In fact the new Dore-Salmon PLUS staging system (2006) now makes imaging techniques as part of the criteria for staging of multiple myeloma.
Billy1
MGUS and Multiple Myeloma
I had Dr. Landgren from National Cancer Institute on my radio show talking about MGUS and Multiple Myeloma. You can access the archived interview at http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/59330/mgus-and-survival-of-head-and-neck-cancer. ( I also had a survivor of head and neck cancer Michele Howe Clarke tell her story). You can access any of my shows at http://www.voiceamerica.com/show/1929/the-dr-melanie-show. I have been diagnosed with MGUS myself.
-
bartmelly
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
Dr Landgren is a brilliant multiple myeloma Doctor. I just went to see him last week. Kind,caring and Compassionate too.
-
Art - Name: Art
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 12/2011
- Age at diagnosis: 40
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
ART
Cant hot link to your name for mesages. Not ignoring.
Cant hot link to your name for mesages. Not ignoring.
-
suzierose - Name: suzierose
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2 sept 2011
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
While they were trying to figure out what was wrong with me after being admitted to the hospital with a 6.3 HGB, they did a full Xray body scan and even though I had bone pain in ribs and spine, nothing showed up on the xray.
Then the tests came back 8.9 mspike ad 80% marrow.
Knowing I had pain even though no lesions showed on the xrays AND I had Hypercalcemia, I knew there was some bone involvement. After my 5 cycles of chemo, I finally had a PET scan done. It showed "multiple levels of osteolytic changes in ribs and spine common in treated multiple myeloma"
So it did not show up on xrays but did on a PET.
-Chris
Then the tests came back 8.9 mspike ad 80% marrow.
Knowing I had pain even though no lesions showed on the xrays AND I had Hypercalcemia, I knew there was some bone involvement. After my 5 cycles of chemo, I finally had a PET scan done. It showed "multiple levels of osteolytic changes in ribs and spine common in treated multiple myeloma"
So it did not show up on xrays but did on a PET.
-Chris
-
ninja performance - Name: Chris Hill
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 08/04/2011
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
Hello from cloudy and gray Seattle!
Sometimes the nomenclature of medicine is confusing so one can never be sure what is meant by "bone scan".
In general medical use, the term "bone scan" refers to the use of injectable radiolabeled technicium ( technetium-99 a radioactive tracer). Technetium bone scans are not valuable in the workup of multiple myeloma because they are designed to be sensitive to the presence of "blastic" bone lesions (seen in breast cancer for instance) but not "lytic" lesions which are the classic bone lesions of myeloma. Unfortunately technetium bone scans are often mistakenly ordered in the workup of myeloma.
Sometimes a bone density test is referred to as a "bone scan" but this test is not designed to screen for myeloma either.
The skeletal survey ([XRAYS of skull, entire spine, pelvis, ribs, both humeri and femora (proximal long bones)] is the classic and still accepted, first line radiographic screening test for multiple myeloma.
A bone marrow MRI is also often used to screen for myeloma and is more sensitive to subtle bony myeloma lesions than the skeletal survey.
Sometimes the nomenclature of medicine is confusing so one can never be sure what is meant by "bone scan".
In general medical use, the term "bone scan" refers to the use of injectable radiolabeled technicium ( technetium-99 a radioactive tracer). Technetium bone scans are not valuable in the workup of multiple myeloma because they are designed to be sensitive to the presence of "blastic" bone lesions (seen in breast cancer for instance) but not "lytic" lesions which are the classic bone lesions of myeloma. Unfortunately technetium bone scans are often mistakenly ordered in the workup of myeloma.
Sometimes a bone density test is referred to as a "bone scan" but this test is not designed to screen for myeloma either.
The skeletal survey ([XRAYS of skull, entire spine, pelvis, ribs, both humeri and femora (proximal long bones)] is the classic and still accepted, first line radiographic screening test for multiple myeloma.
A bone marrow MRI is also often used to screen for myeloma and is more sensitive to subtle bony myeloma lesions than the skeletal survey.
-
Dr. Edward Libby - Name: Edward Libby, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: bone scan and multiple myeloma
My full body scan at DX which showed nothing was nothing more than an every day Xray. Nothing was injected or swallowed.
The post chemo therapy PET last week however showed multiple level osteolytic changes in the ribs and vertebral bodies with no FDG avidity.
-Chris
The post chemo therapy PET last week however showed multiple level osteolytic changes in the ribs and vertebral bodies with no FDG avidity.
-Chris
-
ninja performance - Name: Chris Hill
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 08/04/2011
- Age at diagnosis: 43
12 posts
• Page 1 of 2 • 1, 2