Multiple myeloma
Chapter: 20b
Neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells, with synthesis of monoclonal immunoglobin or immunoglobin fragment (M protein). Criteria for diagnosis involve meeting certain combinations of major and minor criteria (refer to standard texts). Multiple myeloma is usually a disease of the elderly, and radiographic studies often reveal multiple punched-out lytic lesions, commonly of the skull. Serum protein electrophoresis can detect the presence of monoclonal protein. Peripheral blood smears may show rouleaux, and bone marrow reveals an atypical plasma cell infiltrate.
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