For years I've been treated for bone tumours (which keep returning in my left tibia). Before each removal surgery I've had MRIs, CT scans, and standard blood work.
Every doctor has been puzzled by the appearance of the tumours, but said I'm too young for bone cancer and just removed them with no further testing (curettage with bone graft).
I've just been told by my GP that MGUS has been detected in close family members and I need a blood test!
I've been worried sick for 7 days and can't sleep, as I'm scared of having multiple myeloma, but I have to wait for 3 weeks before my results!
I just wanted to know if multiple myeloma would have been detected on the MRI and CT scans I had, or if it's only diagnosed by bone marrow?
Sorry if this doesn't come across well. I have autism and struggle to write. I just want peace of mind.
Hope someone can help.
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Re: Will an MRI or CT scan detect multiple myeloma?
I would not worry so much.
An MRI or CT scan could detect bone lesions, one of the 4 tradition "CRAB" (high calcium, renal, anemia, and bone lesions) criteria for myeloma symptoms
As you can see, the other 3 are detected by simple blood tests.
Yes, a bone marrow biopsy is part of the process of diagnosing multiple myeloma, but it is usually only done if you have M-protein (paraprotein, M-protein) and/or high kappa or lambda free light chains in your blood tests.
Hope this helps.
An MRI or CT scan could detect bone lesions, one of the 4 tradition "CRAB" (high calcium, renal, anemia, and bone lesions) criteria for myeloma symptoms
As you can see, the other 3 are detected by simple blood tests.
Yes, a bone marrow biopsy is part of the process of diagnosing multiple myeloma, but it is usually only done if you have M-protein (paraprotein, M-protein) and/or high kappa or lambda free light chains in your blood tests.
Hope this helps.
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Dimamar - When were you/they diagnosed?: June, 2016
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Will an MRI or CT scan detect multiple myeloma?
Hi Mizzyholly,
Sorry to hear about your situation.
1. Just how young are you?
2. It sounds like you had some blood tests related to multiple myeloma and are awaiting the results, right?
The presence of multiple myeloma related lesions (osteolytic lesions) should have been detected by MRI or CT, but that really depends on how the radiologist interpreted the results. If there were a suspicion that these tumors might be multiple myeloma related, they should have biopsied the tumors and the doctors should have conducted further blood tests at that time.
For a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, one would usually corroborate any radiological findings with more extensive blood tests. If the blood tests and radiological images suggest some sort of plasma cell disorder like multiple myeloma, then the next step would be to get a bone marrow biopsy to help finalize the diagnosis.
In your case, if the pending blood tests suggest something like MGUS or smoldering multiple myeloma, you should really have another radiologist go back and look at your MRI and CT scans and re-examine those images in the context of a myeloma diagnosis.
Lastly, it might be helpful to go back and look at your "standard" blood tests. Does your comprehensive metabolic panel show an elevated protein, calcium, creatinine or globulin level? Does your CBC show a below-normal RBC or hemoglobin count? One or more of these conditions can potentially point to myeloma, but these values would need to be evaluated in the context of other specialized blood tests such as a serum protein electrophoresis and a serum immunofixation test.
This isn't meant to scare you, but rather give you an idea of the steps necessary to confirm a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Your GP sounds like a smart guy since myeloma can occur in folks in their early 20's. Take care.
Sorry to hear about your situation.
1. Just how young are you?
2. It sounds like you had some blood tests related to multiple myeloma and are awaiting the results, right?
The presence of multiple myeloma related lesions (osteolytic lesions) should have been detected by MRI or CT, but that really depends on how the radiologist interpreted the results. If there were a suspicion that these tumors might be multiple myeloma related, they should have biopsied the tumors and the doctors should have conducted further blood tests at that time.
For a diagnosis of multiple myeloma, one would usually corroborate any radiological findings with more extensive blood tests. If the blood tests and radiological images suggest some sort of plasma cell disorder like multiple myeloma, then the next step would be to get a bone marrow biopsy to help finalize the diagnosis.
In your case, if the pending blood tests suggest something like MGUS or smoldering multiple myeloma, you should really have another radiologist go back and look at your MRI and CT scans and re-examine those images in the context of a myeloma diagnosis.
Lastly, it might be helpful to go back and look at your "standard" blood tests. Does your comprehensive metabolic panel show an elevated protein, calcium, creatinine or globulin level? Does your CBC show a below-normal RBC or hemoglobin count? One or more of these conditions can potentially point to myeloma, but these values would need to be evaluated in the context of other specialized blood tests such as a serum protein electrophoresis and a serum immunofixation test.
This isn't meant to scare you, but rather give you an idea of the steps necessary to confirm a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Your GP sounds like a smart guy since myeloma can occur in folks in their early 20's. Take care.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
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