Multiple myeloma (MM) is a haematological malignancy of B lymphoid lineage affecting the elderly. It is characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells invading the bone marrow [1]. Radiographs are usually performed at initial diagnosis or at relapses in search of [2]: osteolytic lesions (nodular infiltration), secondary osteoporosis and vertebral collapses (diffuse infiltration). EOS® system is a new modality of X-ray imaging, developed recently, for whole body scanning. The main purpose of this work was to evaluate the usefulness of the EOS® system...

The EOS® system presents itself as a cabin of about 2 m3 (fig.1) with two orthogonal systems, each made up of a X-ray tube and a detector. This is a new modality of X-ray imaging with a fan-shaped beam of X-rays unlike conventional X-ray beam. The patient is standing inside the cabin and images are made by scanning the patient from head to foot (Fig.2-4). The EOS® system is based on a multiwire chamber technology (Prof. Charpak G., Nobel Prize for Physics in 1992) using...

There was no significant difference between the two imaging modalities, as 292 out of 309 bone lesions (112 vertebral collapses, 197 osteolytic lesions (Fig.1)) were detected both by EOS® system and radiography. Ten bone lesions were not seen by EOS® system (vertebral collapses essentially and costal lesions) whereas 7 bone lesions were not detected by radiographs (skull lesions essentially). EOS® system allowed to study as good or betterthan radiographs, skull lesions (Fig.2-3), peripheral bone lesions (Fig.4-10) and soft tissue lesions (Fig.11-12). However, vertebral collapses were...

EOS® system is a new low-dose radiation device which allows a quick scan of the whole body. In this preliminary study performed in patients with MM, this technique allowed detection of bone lesions with better comfort.

[1] Delorme S, Bau-Melnyk A. Imaging in multiple myeloma. Eur J Radiol 2009; 70: 401-408. [2] Lütje S, de Rooy JW, Croockewit S, Koedam E, Oyen WJ, Raymakers RA. Role of radiography, MRI and FDG-PET/CT in diagnosing, staging and therapeutical evaluation of patients with multiple myeloma. Ann Hematol 2009; 88: 1161-8. [3] Dinter DJ, Neff WK, Klaus J, Böhm C, Hastka J, Weiss C, Schoenberg SO, Metzgeroth G. Comparison of whole-body MR imaging and conventional X-ray examination in patients with multiple myeloma and implications for...