What are the common imaging positions for myeloma examinations?

The most common imaging position for myeloma examinations is with the arms down. This positioning helps to ensure that the patient's anatomy is properly aligned for effective imaging. Keeping the arms down minimizes motion artifacts and allows for optimal visualization of the skeletal structures, which is crucial in assessing possible lesions, bone involvement, and the overall extent of the disease in patients with multiple myeloma.

In this position, the camera can capture more uniform images without obstruction from the arms, allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the axial and appendicular skeleton. This is particularly important in myeloma, as the disease often affects the vertebrae, ribs, and other bones.

The other positions may not provide the same level of clarity or might hinder the imaging process due to potential obstructions or artifacts that could arise from the arms or other body parts being in the way. For example, raising the arms could create a shadowing effect on critical structures being examined, while lying on the stomach can limit access to the areas of interest in a myeloma evaluation.