[hopeful27]

How often do you get bone imaging done?

by hopeful27 on Thu Jun 05, 2014 7:47 am

Yesterday we went to the doctor, and he has no plan to do any more imaging or x-rays to follow up on the bones. Is this normal? How often do you get imaging done?

[Eric Hofacket]

Re: How often do you get bone imaging done?

by Eric Hofacket on Thu Jun 05, 2014 10:15 am

I have had imaging done three times in the last three years and it was not done on any kind of fixed schedule, but on a as deemed needed basis. There is no plan to do it again in the future for me at this time.

My bones are in pretty good shape compared to many others with myeloma. I think this would be a very individualized thing to each myeloma patient based on their condition.

[Dr. Heather Landau]

Re: How often do you get bone imaging done?

by Dr. Heather Landau on Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:18 pm

I agree that this is individualized based on each patient and the trajectory of their disease. When patients are responding to treatment and feeling better, additional imaging is not necessarily needed. Yet, in the setting of a research study regular imaging may be mandated -- most often yearly. Otherwise, if new symptoms develop or if there is evidence of disease progression, bone imaging is certainly indicated. Hope this helps!

[darnold]

Re: How often do you get bone imaging done?

by darnold on Mon Jun 09, 2014 5:17 pm

I get x-ray imaging once a year. Even if new lesions aren't showing up, it's been useful to follow the osteo in my left hip and the bone spurs that are now starting to grow on several of my vertebrae.

[DougC]

Re: How often do you get bone imaging done?

by DougC on Fri Jun 13, 2014 8:01 pm

I get an MRI every July and a PET/CT every January. I've been following this plan since Jan 09. I personally feel an MRI once a year should be a minimum due to its ability to detect focal marrow lesions. I also think a PET/CT every couple of years is important to monitor/detect new lesions and to keep an eye out for secondary cancers. If a doctor told me I'd be monitored only by serum, I 'd run to another doctor. Serum testing is too sketchy in the case of myeloma.

[dnalex]

Re: How often do you get bone imaging done?

by dnalex on Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:09 pm

My mom gets an MRI, PET scan, and BM done every 6 months. After this year, it may be every 12 months.

[lys2012]

Re: How often do you get bone imaging done?

by lys2012 on Mon Jun 16, 2014 10:35 pm

I just had a skeletal survey at my follow up today. It appears I'm very slowly coming out of remission, since a low M-spike has shown up on my last two sets of three month blood work. So my doctor ordered a bone scan today. No symptoms or anything yet, just a very low (0.2) M-spike, all other blood work normal.

I've been in CR for 4 years since my stem cell transplant. Over four years I've had one MRI, one bone density test and now this skeletal survey. So not much imaging, mostly followed with blood work.

[NormDR9]

Re: How often do you get bone imaging done?

by NormDR9 on Tue Jun 17, 2014 4:44 pm

I'm three years out from SCT and still in remission. I get annual skeletal surveys to see if anything changes. Earlier this year I got my first bone density scan which will probably be repeated in a couple more years.

I don't know that there is any standard protocol for this. It depends on the doctor, of course, and the individual circumstances. The insurance companies probably have a say in this, too.