I recently had severe back pain in which I could hardly walk. I did not injure my back. The doctor ordered a thoracic spine MRI with and without contrast. The radiologist recommended a radioactive bone scan or another MRI in three months after his findings. The MRI of the thoracic spine indicated the following:
"T2 hyperintense signal in the left pars and pedicle of the thoracic spine (9-11), and T1 hypointense signal in the same areas that are more ill-defined since my last MRI."
I am also anemic and I am now experiencing severe pain in both legs from the knees down. I also get a band like feeling around my torso and my legs are hard to stand on long. One doctor told me the radiologist recommended the bone scan because "Uncommonly such MRI signals that are "ill-defined" is subject to speculation as it may be seen in metastasis (secondary cancer deposit), multiple myeloma, bone infection".
Does anyone have any input on my MRI findings? Thank you so much for your help.
Forums
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Re: Possible Myeloma?
The bone scan will determine if there any lesions (holes in the bone). That would be an indication of multiple myeloma. It is one of the CRAB indicators of multiple myeloma
C - Calcium levels elevated
R - Renal Impairment often accompanied by high creatine levels in the urine
A - Anemia
B - Bone Lesions
one or more of these indicate active disease if accompanied by an M spike in the SPEP test or out of normal Light Chain Assay test especially the kappa/Lambda ratio.
Ron
C - Calcium levels elevated
R - Renal Impairment often accompanied by high creatine levels in the urine
A - Anemia
B - Bone Lesions
one or more of these indicate active disease if accompanied by an M spike in the SPEP test or out of normal Light Chain Assay test especially the kappa/Lambda ratio.
Ron
-
Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
Re: Possible Myeloma?
Hi,
Bone scan would not be good to evaluate for myeloma but is good for evaluating metastasis from other types of cancer. Generally MRI of the spine is excellent for evaluating for myeloma lesion. A PET scan would be my preference if another test is recommended to evaluate for myeloma.
It would also be important to have labs performed as part of the myeloma evaluation. As Ron points out, assessment of serum calcium and renal function are important. Given the anemia and bone finding, certainly a serum protein electrophoresis, serum immunofixation and serum free light chain assay should be done.
Bone scan would not be good to evaluate for myeloma but is good for evaluating metastasis from other types of cancer. Generally MRI of the spine is excellent for evaluating for myeloma lesion. A PET scan would be my preference if another test is recommended to evaluate for myeloma.
It would also be important to have labs performed as part of the myeloma evaluation. As Ron points out, assessment of serum calcium and renal function are important. Given the anemia and bone finding, certainly a serum protein electrophoresis, serum immunofixation and serum free light chain assay should be done.
-
Dr. Jason Valent - Name: Jason Valent, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Possible Myeloma?
Hello everyone, I posted here a few days ago and I wanted to follow up with the test results I got over the weekend.
My urine protein electrophoresis has me panicking. It stated:
Urine albumin 100.00
Urine protein mg/g creat to low to calculate
Immunoglobulin test was normal
Red blood count is 3.67
HGB is 11.9
Also, ortho doc told me this week it that it appears my thoracic pedicle is fractured. I had severe back pain several months ago and now I have bone pain that has spread to knees, legs, arms.
MRI showed ill defined hypo and hyper intensities in thoracic spine and I was to have a follow up MRI but my insurance denied it however they approved the nuclear medicine 3 phase bone scan which I am having done on Tuesday...if I don't back out. I almost don't want to know!
Any feedback would be truly appreciated. I am 55 years young
but have had some bizarre symptoms for awhile now.
Thank you
My urine protein electrophoresis has me panicking. It stated:
Urine albumin 100.00
Urine protein mg/g creat to low to calculate
Immunoglobulin test was normal
Red blood count is 3.67
HGB is 11.9
Also, ortho doc told me this week it that it appears my thoracic pedicle is fractured. I had severe back pain several months ago and now I have bone pain that has spread to knees, legs, arms.
MRI showed ill defined hypo and hyper intensities in thoracic spine and I was to have a follow up MRI but my insurance denied it however they approved the nuclear medicine 3 phase bone scan which I am having done on Tuesday...if I don't back out. I almost don't want to know!
Any feedback would be truly appreciated. I am 55 years young
but have had some bizarre symptoms for awhile now.Thank you
4 posts
• Page 1 of 1