Tumor Load in Patients With Multiple Myeloma: β2-Microglobulin Levels Versus Whole-Body MRI

OBJECTIVE. Beta-2-microglobulin is a serum maker of tumor burden in hematologic malignancies. We aimed to correlate serum beta(2)-microglobulin levels in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) to tumor mass determined by whole-body MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS. We retrospectively included patients with newly diagnosed, untreated MM who underwent whole-body MRI at our institution between 2003 and 2011. Patients with a glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min were excluded from analysis because beta(2)-microglobulin levels are increased in renal failure. Thirty patients could be included. Whole-body MRI examinations (T1-weighted turbo spin-echo and STIR sequences) were assessed by two musculoskeletal radiologists in consensus for focal lesions and the presence of diffuse myeloma infiltration. The presence of diffuse infiltration was confirmed by histology as the reference standard. MM was staged according to the Durie and Salmon PLUS staging system. RESULTS. According to whole-body MRI findings, MM was classified as Durie and Salmon PLUS stage I (low grade) in 13 patients, stage II (intermediate grade) in six patients, and stage III (high grade) in 11 patients. As we expected, most patients with stage I disease (12/13) had normal beta(2)-microglobulin levels (<= 3 mg/L). Higher beta(2)-microglobulin values were associated with a higher stage of disease (p < 0.05). However, five of six patients with stage II MM and five of 11 patients with stage III MM showed normal beta(2)-microglobulin levels. Thus, 10 of 17 patients (58.8%) with substantial infiltration in the bone marrow showed false-negative beta(2)-microglobulin levels. CONCLUSION. Serum beta(2)-microglobulin levels correlate with tumor stage in MM. However, it may be misleading as a marker of tumor load in a subset of patients with substantial myeloma infiltration in the bone marrow. Whole-body MRI may display the full tumor load and correctly show the extension of myeloma infiltrates.