An unusual presentation of multiple myeloma

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Nov 28;11(1):e226412. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-226412.

Abstract

The authors report a case of a 58-year-old woman, ex-smoker, who was referred to the respiratory clinic with a presumed unresolving airspace shadowing in the right lung. Further evaluation of the shadowing with a CT thorax revealed rib lesions, a pancreatic lesion and multiple liver lesions, making the diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic carcinoma most likely. However, further blood investigations and imaging eventually revealed the cause for the shadowing to be multiple myeloma, since the unresolving shadowing was actually a rib lesion.

Keywords: haematology (incl blood transfusion); malignant and benign haematology; respiratory medicine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aftercare
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / blood*
  • Multiple Myeloma / diagnostic imaging
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy
  • Multiple Myeloma / pathology*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / secondary
  • Ribs / diagnostic imaging*
  • Ribs / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods