. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Oct 8.

Published in final edited form as: Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2011 Aug;15(0):9–23. doi: 10.1188/11.S1.CJON.9-23

Table 1.

Diagnostic Imaging in Multiple Myeloma

DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING	PURPOSE
Bone density test	Useful in detecting osteopenia and osteoporosis
Bone scan	Not a useful tool in assessing myeloma bone disease
Magnetic resonance imaging	More sensitive than x-rays
	Used when vertebral compression fracture or spinal cord compression is suspected
	Can detect edema and fluid surrounding active vertebral bone disease and marrow and soft tissue involvement
Positron-emission tomography/computed tomography	Useful in assessing presence of lytic bone lesions and detecting occult plasmacytomas
Skeletal survey	Skeletal x-rays used to detect lytic bone lesions and bone fractures
Skeletal survey	Also used in staging of multiple myeloma

Note. Based on information from Durie, 2006; Roodman, 2008.