{"title":"The Diagnostic Value of Abnormal Bone Marrow Signal Changes on Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Is Bone Marrow Biopsy Essential?","authors":"Fatma Arikan, Yasin Yildiz, Rabia Ergelen, Isık Atagündüz, Tayfur Toptas","doi":"10.2174/0115734056267087231228124325","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is essential to determine whether bone marrow signal changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represent a physiological response or pathology; at present, the clinical significance of these signal changes is unclear. It is unknown whether a bone marrow biopsy is required when bone marrow signal changes are detected incidentally in individuals without suspected malignancy.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether incidentally detected bone marrow signal changes on MRI performed for various reasons (at the time of admission or during follow-up) are clinically significant.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively evaluated the bone marrow biopsy clinical and laboratory findings of 42 patients with incidental bone marrow signal changes on MRI between September 2016 and January 2020. We also determined whether the patients were diagnosed with malignancy during admission or follow-up.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 42 patients, three (7%) were diagnosed with hematological malignancies during admission, while two were diagnosed with multiple myeloma and one with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Of the 42 patients, 35 had a mean follow-up of 40.6 ± 5.3 months. One patient was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance four months after their first admission.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In addition to MRI, detailed clinical and laboratory evaluations should be performed to inform the decision for bone marrow biopsy and exclude hematological malignancy. If there is any doubt, a bone marrow biopsy should be performed. Moreover, since bone marrow signal changes may be a preliminary finding, follow-up of these patients is essential.</p>","PeriodicalId":54215,"journal":{"name":"Current Medical Imaging Reviews","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2024-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Current Medical Imaging Reviews","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.2174/0115734056267087231228124325","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"RADIOLOGY, NUCLEAR MEDICINE & MEDICAL IMAGING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: It is essential to determine whether bone marrow signal changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represent a physiological response or pathology; at present, the clinical significance of these signal changes is unclear. It is unknown whether a bone marrow biopsy is required when bone marrow signal changes are detected incidentally in individuals without suspected malignancy.
Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether incidentally detected bone marrow signal changes on MRI performed for various reasons (at the time of admission or during follow-up) are clinically significant.
Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the bone marrow biopsy clinical and laboratory findings of 42 patients with incidental bone marrow signal changes on MRI between September 2016 and January 2020. We also determined whether the patients were diagnosed with malignancy during admission or follow-up.
Results: Of the 42 patients, three (7%) were diagnosed with hematological malignancies during admission, while two were diagnosed with multiple myeloma and one with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Of the 42 patients, 35 had a mean follow-up of 40.6 ± 5.3 months. One patient was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance four months after their first admission.
Conclusions: In addition to MRI, detailed clinical and laboratory evaluations should be performed to inform the decision for bone marrow biopsy and exclude hematological malignancy. If there is any doubt, a bone marrow biopsy should be performed. Moreover, since bone marrow signal changes may be a preliminary finding, follow-up of these patients is essential.
期刊介绍:
Current Medical Imaging Reviews publishes frontier review articles, original research articles, drug clinical trial studies and guest edited thematic issues on all the latest advances on medical imaging dedicated to clinical research. All relevant areas are covered by the journal, including advances in the diagnosis, instrumentation and therapeutic applications related to all modern medical imaging techniques.
The journal is essential reading for all clinicians and researchers involved in medical imaging and diagnosis.