Whole-body Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis: Clinical Longterm Assessment May Underestimate Activity.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To examine how many patients have clinically and/or radiologically active chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) ≥ 10 years after first onset of symptoms, and (2) to compare clinical and whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) findings.

METHODS: Seventeen patients (82% women) who were diagnosed with childhood-onset CRMO at least 10 years (average 12) before reexamination were reevaluated. Patients completed a standardized questionnaire, and underwent clinical and laboratory investigation and WB-MRI. Clinical features were compared with imaging findings.

RESULTS: Five patients were found to be in clinical and radiological remission. One of these patients demonstrated 1 radiologically inactive lesion on WB-MRI. Four patients showed radiologically active lesions despite full clinical remission, 2 of them in 3 vertebral bodies. Spinal involvement in 6 patients (35%) caused vertebral compression fractures, vertebra plana, or vertebral hemifusion. Eight patients presented with ongoing clinical disease activity. When applying a CRMO activity score based on clinical and imaging findings, 2 patients were identified as having pain amplification. Overall, 22/55 known CRMO lesions were identified; 11 of them were radiologically active lesions. Additionally, 14 so far unknown clinically silent lesions were detected: 8 radiologically active lesions and 6 radiologically inactive lesions.

CONCLUSION: CRMO activity on longterm followup might have been underestimated. Our study demonstrates that clinical remission does not necessarily mean radiological remission. We therefore propose that all patients with CRMO, including patients in clinical remission, require longterm clinical followup and should undergo evaluation with WB-MRI on a regular basis until radiological remission or a steady state of disease is achieved.