Analyzing longitudinal wb‐mri data and clinical course in a cohort of former smoldering multiple myeloma patients: Connections between mri findings and clinical progression patterns

The purpose of this study was to analyze size and growth dynamics of focal lesions (FL) as well as to quantify diffuse infiltration (DI) in untreated smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) patients and correlate those MRI features with timepoint and cause of progression. We investigated 199 whole‐body magnetic resonance imaging (wb‐MRI) scans originating from longitudinal imaging of 60 SMM patients and 39 computed tomography (CT) scans for corresponding osteolytic lesions (OL) in 17 patients. All FLs >5 mm were manually segmented to quantify volume and growth dynamics, and DI was scored, rating four compartments separately in T1‐ and fat‐saturated T2‐ weighted images. The majority of patients with at least two FLs showed substantial spatial heterogeneity in growth dynamics. The volume of the largest FL (p = 0.001, c‐index 0.72), the speed of growth of the fastest growing FL (p = 0.003, c‐index 0.75), the DI score (DIS, p = 0.014, c‐index 0.67), and its dynamic over time (DIS dynamic, p < 0.001, c‐index 0.67) all significantly correlated with the time to progression. Size and growth dynamics of FLs correlated significantly with presence/appearance of OL in CT within 2 years after the respective MRI assessment (p = 0.016 and p = 0.022). DIS correlated with decrease of hemoglobin (p < 0.001). In conclusion, size and growth dynamics of FLs correlate with prognosis and local bone destruction. Connections between MRI findings and progression patterns (fast growing FL—OL; DIS—hemoglobin decrease) might enable more precise diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for SMM patients in the future.