Multiple myeloma evaluated with 201Tl scintigraphy compared with bone scintigraphy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of 201Tl chloride scintigraphy in the diagnostic evaluation of 20 patients with multiple myeloma (19/20 patients) or extramedullary plasmacytoma (1/20 patients) in comparison with bone scintigraphy.

Methods: Both 201Tl and bone scintigraphy were performed to obtain planar images on the same instrument.

Results: 201Tl scintigraphy showed increased uptake in 15 of 20 patients (75%) and was negative in 5 of 20 patients (25%). In addition, 201Tl scintigraphy of multiple myeloma was more useful in detecting the lesions in 11 of 17 patients and less useful in 6 of 17 patients than bone scintigraphy.

Conclusions: The combination of 201Tl and bone scintigraphy, compared with bone scintigraphy alone, shows promise in more accurately diagnosing multiple myeloma.