
Last year in the UK over 60,000 cancer patients enrolled on clinical trials aimed at improving cancer treatments and making them available to all.
This study is open to people who are having a scan because they have myeloma or because their doctor thinks they might have it.
A PET-CT scan is a combination of a PET scan and a CT scan. A PET-MRI scan is a combination of a PET scan and an MRI scan.
Myeloma can cause bone damage. Doctors use a PET-CT scan to find out whether myeloma is damaging your bones. They can also use a PET-CT scan to find out how well treatment for myeloma is working.
Researchers think that a PET-MRI scan might be better at spotting bone damage and at seeing how well treatment is working. This is because a PET-MRI scan measures the bone damage but also shows how the myeloma is acting.
They hope that the extra information from the PET-MRI scan can help doctors find out if treatment is working or not earlier. So they can change treatment if necessary.
In this study researchers will compare the results of the PET-MRI scan with those of the PET-CT scan to find out which is better.
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.
Who can take part
You may be able to join this study if all of the following apply. You:
Who can’t take part
You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:
This is a pilot study. The study team need 20 people to join.
You have a PET-CT scan and depending on the results you might have a PET-MRI scan on the same day.
You do not have the PET-MRI scan if the results of the PET-CT scan show no myeloma. And then you are no longer part of the study.
You have the PET-MRI scan if the results of the PET-CT scan show you have myeloma.
For the scans the radiographer puts a needle (cannula) into a vein in your arm.
To have the PET-CT scan the radiographer puts a small amount of through the cannula. You then need to lie still for 1 ½ hours before you have the scan.
Then if you are having the PET-MRI scan the radiographer will put a small amount of into the cannula.
You have your initial chemotherapy (induction chemotherapy) before your stem cell transplant. After this you have another PET-CT scan and PET-MRI scan.
The study team will also collect information from your clinic visits and medical records. This is to see if the scans can show how well the treatment is working.
There are no extra hospital visits if you take part in this study.
The study team monitor you during treatment and afterwards. Contact your advice line or tell your doctor or nurse if any side effects are bad or not getting better.
The scans used in this study are safe for most people.
The PET-CT scan uses a radioactive dye and this gives a small amount of radiation. This is about the same amount as 3 years of background radiation everyone would get.
The radioactive tracer goes away quickly and does not affect how your body works. After the scan it is best not to have close contact with pregnant women, babies or children for about 6 hours.
The PET-MRI scan uses a contrast dye called gadolinium. Side effects are rare and can include:
A very small number of people (less than 1 person in 1,000 people) might have an allergic reaction to the contrast dye. This can start with:
Tell the radiographer straight away if you feel unwell.
We have information about:
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Professor Vicky Goh
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
King's College London
Royal College of Radiologists
Freephone 0808 800 4040
Last year in the UK over 60,000 cancer patients enrolled on clinical trials aimed at improving cancer treatments and making them available to all.