The prognostic importance of the presence of more than one focal lesion in spine MRI of patients with asymptomatic (smoldering) multiple myeloma.

The article evaluates the importance of focal lesions in spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the identification of patients with asymptomatic multiple myeloma at high risk of progression. At least one in six patients with more than one focal lesion are found to have one of the other high-risk features. Patients with more than one focal lesion is noted to have a median time of 13 months to progression. Spine MRI is considered useful as an imaging modality of choice.