[coachhoke]

Can spinal lytic lesions from multiple myeloma heal?

by coachhoke on Thu Jan 05, 2017 9:49 am

Do lytic lesions in the spine caused by multiple myeloma ever heal with new bone?

My oncologist suggests that if healing occurs, it is scar tissue, not new bone, as there are no osteoblasts in those lesions capable of producing new bone.

[blueblood]

Re: Can spinal lytic lesions from multiple myeloma heal?

by blueblood on Thu Jan 05, 2017 11:32 am

Coach:

I will be interested in what others have to say. I have been told by my oncologist that they can heal, but they don't necessarily have to heal. I choose to believe mine are healing. I have seen X-rays where they have definitely filled in.

I have never heard an explanation of it being like scar tissue, although I am under the im­pression if the area was radiated, the chance of healing are minimized since radiation killed that area.

Craig

[lys2012]

Re: Can spinal lytic lesions from multiple myeloma heal?

by lys2012 on Thu Jan 05, 2017 10:21 pm

It might be different for everyone, but in my case they healed.

I had multiple lesions in the thoracic area of my spine, and my ribs, and over time they disappeared.

I recently had a lot of imaging for staging relapse and no lesions were noted on CT or MRI.

I did take pamidronate (Aredia) for a while, and I'm still fairly young – was 30'ish when diagnosed – so I'm still actively building bones.

[Colin]

Re: Can spinal lytic lesions from multiple myeloma heal?

by Colin on Sat Jan 07, 2017 8:58 pm

I would be interested in hearing more about this subject. I have three com­pressed discs in my upper back and would like to think that one day I will be able to run again.