The Gulf journal of oncology
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Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell neoplasm with a spectrum spanning from localized to disseminated forms, plasma cell infiltration of various organs, plasma cell leukemia and abnormal immunoglobulin chain deposition in the tissues. In the bone marrow, myeloma cells are seen, and vary from mature forms to immature pleomorphic, anaplastic cells. M component is found in the serum or urine in 99% of the patients. ⋯ The percentage incidence of Multiple Myeloma, out of all hematological malignancies reported in our study is comparable with other studies as regards to the median age of incidence, male to female ratio, clinical presentation and percentage of M band positivity. However, a higher percentage of our patients had hypercalcemia, higher Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase levels and C -Reactive protein positivity and more lytic lesions. This corresponds with a higher tumor cell burden and a more frequent diffuse pattern of bone marrow involvement in our study group. This could be due to the smaller size of our study group, or due to late referral of patients to our tertiary care hospital.