When doctors use both a full-body MRI and a special PET/CT scan together to check for multiple myeloma, they’re more likely to change the patient’s treatment plan than if they only use one scan alone.

A full-body MRI scan is better at spotting early signs of bone marrow cancer in certain types of myeloma than the PET/CT scan, especially when the cancer looks spread out in tiny spots — and this might change how doctors decide to treat patients.

When doctors use two different scans to check for bone damage in multiple myeloma, they usually get the same results—but about 1 in 10 times, the MRI sees something the PET/CT scan misses.

A full-body MRI scan can find serious hidden health problems—like possible cancer or spinal issues—in people with certain types of blood cancer, even when a different scan called FDG-PET/CT misses them.

For some people with an early form of blood cancer called smoldering myeloma, a special full-body scan (MRI) can spot hidden cancer cells in the bone marrow—even when there are no visible tumors—and this might help doctors decide to start treatment sooner.