Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Multiple myeloma history and symptoms
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The history and symptoms of multiple myeloma are based on the underlying effect of excess plasma cells on various organ systems. Pain is usually a symptom of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Broad categories of symptoms include bone-related symptoms, neurological symptoms, hypercalcemia-related symptoms, bone marrow failure-related symptoms, and thrombosis-related symptoms. Although all of these symptoms are possible, the presentation of multiple myeloma varies from patient to patient.
History and Symptoms
History and Symptoms
Relevant history includes:
- Review of past medical history for other plasma cell diseases, hematologic malignancies, underlying renal disease, and underlying bone disease
- Review of family history for members with positive history of hematologic malignancies
- Review of occupational history related to farming, oil industry, or Agent Orange exposure
History includes character, location, onset, and duration of pain (typically bony pain). Symptoms of multiple myeloma include:[1][2][3][4][5][6]
-
- Usually involves the spine and ribs (axial skeleton), and worsens with activity
- Persistent localized pain may indicate a pathological bone fracture
- Inability to carry out routine tasks due to limitation by pain
- Neurological symptoms
- Numbness due to plasma cell infiltration of nerves or anti-neuronal glycoprotein antibodies
- Muscle weakness
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Paralysis
- Visual changes
- Hypercalcemia-related symptoms
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lethargy due to anemia
- Bone marrow failure-related symptoms: This is due to crowding out of normal bone marrow precursors by malignant plasma cells.
- Easy bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums due to thrombocytopenia
- Fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness and paleness due to anemia
- Recurrent infections due to leukopenia
- Thrombotic symptoms: Thrombosis is more common in multiple myeloma due to cancer-associated thrombosis and due to lenalidomide, which increases thrombotic risk.
- Shortness of breath due to pulmonary embolism
- Lower extremity edema due to deep vein thrombosis
- Abdominal pain due to mesenteric venous thrombosis
- Transient ischemic attack
- Retinal hemorrhage
References
References
- ↑ Multiple myeloma. Wikipedia (2015) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_myeloma#Signs_and_symptoms Accessed on September, 20th 2015
- ↑ Multiple myeloma. Canadian Cancer Society (2015) http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/multiple-myeloma/signs-and-symptoms/?region=mb Accessed on September 20th 2015
- ↑ Multiple myeloma. Cancer. gov(2015) http://www.cancer.gov/types/myeloma Accessed on September, 20th 2015
- ↑ Reisenbuckler C (2014). “Multiple myeloma and diagnostic imaging”. Radiol Technol. 85 (4): 391–410, quiz 411–3. PMID 24614435.
- ↑ Sergentanis TN, Zagouri F, Tsilimidos G, Tsagianni A, Tseliou M, Dimopoulos MA, Psaltopoulou T (October 2015). “Risk Factors for Multiple Myeloma: A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses”. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 15 (10): 563–77.e1–3. doi:10.1016/j.clml.2015.06.003. PMID 26294217.
- ↑ Eslick R, Talaulikar D (October 2013). “Multiple myeloma: from diagnosis to treatment”. Aust Fam Physician. 42 (10): 684–8. PMID 24130968.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hannan Javed, M.D.[2]; Haytham Allaham, M.D. [3]; Shyam Patel [4]