What can be misdiagnosed as myeloma?

Conditions That Can Look Like Multiple Myeloma
  • Arthritis.
  • Back Injury.
  • Pneumonia.
  • Kidney Disease.
  • Amyloidosis.
  • Diabetes.
  • Lyme Disease.
  • Hypercalcemia.


What can multiple myeloma be mistaken for?

Some other conditions can appear similar to multiple myeloma, including Lyme disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and arthritis. According to the National Cancer Institute , multiple myeloma may not cause any symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they can include: bone pain, particularly in the back or ribs.

How do you rule out multiple myeloma?

Specialized tests, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can analyze myeloma cells to identify gene mutations. Imaging tests. Imaging tests may be recommended to detect bone problems associated with multiple myeloma. Tests may include an X-ray, MRI, CT or positron emission tomography (PET).


What confirms diagnosis of multiple myeloma?

Bone marrow biopsy

This test is required to confirm the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. A needle is inserted into the bone marrow space to remove a small sliver of bone marrow. Our hematopathologists examine the tissue under a microscope to determine if there are myeloma cells in the bone marrow.

What is the hallmark symptom of multiple myeloma?

The hallmark symptom of multiple myeloma is bone pain. It often occurs in the back, the hips, and sometimes the skull. Some patients may experience pain that is worse at night, which disrupts their sleep. When you have multiple myeloma, your bones may easily break.


Myeloma Awareness Week 2021: Don't miss myeloma



What is usually the first early symptom of multiple myeloma?

Multiple myeloma causes many symptoms, but bone pain often is the first symptom people notice. Other symptoms include: Weakness in your arms and legs and/or a sensation of numbness in your arms and legs. Multiple myeloma can affect the bones in your spine, causing them to collapse and press on your spinal cord.

What are the red flags for multiple myeloma?

High blood levels of calcium

Extreme thirst, leading to drinking a lot. Urinating (peeing) a lot. Dehydration. Kidney problems and even kidney failure.

When do you suspect myeloma?

Symptoms of multiple myeloma

It's often only suspected or diagnosed after a routine blood or urine test. Eventually, myeloma causes a wide range of problems, including: a persistent bone pain, usually in the back, ribs or hips. tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath – caused by anaemia.


What blood results indicate myeloma?

Serum free light chain or SFLC (also called light chain assay): this shows if there are small proteins called light chains in your blood, which is common in myeloma. If you have light chains in your blood but no paraprotein, this may mean you have a type of myeloma called light chain myeloma.

How do doctors know if you have myeloma?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

An MRI can show if normal bone marrow has been replaced by myeloma cells or by a plasmacytoma, especially in the skull, spine, and pelvis. A plasmacytoma is a plasma cell tumor growing in bone or soft tissue.

What is the most prominent symptom of multiple myeloma?

Major symptoms of multiple myeloma may include bone pain, especially in the back and the ribs; low levels of circulating red blood cells (anemia) resulting in weakness, fatigue, and lack of color (pallor); and kidney (renal) abnormalities.


Does myeloma show up in blood test?

For myeloma, you have blood tests and urine tests looking for an abnormal protein (the myeloma protein is called monoclonal protein, M-protein or paraprotein). Your blood sample is sent to the laboratory. A blood doctor looks at your sample under a microscope.

Where does myeloma pain start?

Multiple myeloma can cause pain in affected bones – usually the back, ribs or hips. The pain is frequently a persistent dull ache, which may be made worse by movement.

Can you see multiple myeloma on MRI?

MRI is useful for imaging multiple myeloma because of its superior soft-tissue contrast resolution. The typical appearance of a myeloma deposit is a round, low signal intensity (relative to muscle) focus on T1-weighted images, which becomes high in signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences.


Does multiple myeloma show up on a bone scan?

In multiple myeloma the osteoblastic response to bone destruction is negligible. The bone scan is often therefore normal or may show areas of decreased uptake (photopaenia). Most studies have shown that the sensitivity of skeletal scintigraphy for detecting individual deposits ranges from 40 to 60% [14, 15].

Can you diagnose multiple myeloma without a bone marrow biopsy?

Imaging studies

These tests include bone (skeletal) survey, X-ray, MRI, CT and PET. These tests assess changes in the bone structure and determine the number and size of tumors in the bone. Higher levels of bone changes suggest the presence of multiple myeloma.

What triggers myeloma?

What Are Its Causes? Exposure to toxic chemicals, atomic radiation, anything that interferes with the immune system, or infection with cancer-causing viruses, may potentially be linked to the developing myeloma.


Where does myeloma spread to first?

At first, the cells reproduce in the bone marrow of the spine. From there, they enter the bloodstream and travel to bone marrow in other parts of the body. They collect in the bone marrow and the hard, outer part of the bones. As this progression happens, the plasma cells can cause multiple tumors.

What is the most common complaint of multiple myeloma?

Bone pain is the most common presenting symptom in MM. Most case series report that 70% of patients have bone pain at presentation. The lumbar spine is one of the most common sites of pain. Pathologic fractures are very common in MM; 93% of patients have more than one site of bony involvement.

What is the most important blood test for multiple myeloma?

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

It is one of the most important blood tests used for diagnosing and monitoring myeloma patients. The CBC quantifies all the cells that make up the solid parts of blood. The liquid part of blood that is colorless is called serum. Blood cells are suspended in the serum.


How long can you have myeloma before symptoms?

Some people have multiple myeloma for months or years before they even know they're sick. This earliest phase is called smoldering multiple myeloma. When you have it, you won't have any symptoms, but your test results will show: At least 10% to 59% of your bone marrow is made up of cancerous plasma cells.

Does multiple myeloma come on suddenly?

The bone damage associated with multiple myeloma occurs mostly in the rib cage, spine and pelvis, increasing the risk of spinal cord compression, which causes pain, numbness or weakness in the limbs and requires immediate treatment. It may come on gradually or suddenly.

Do you feel ill with myeloma?

Symptoms of weight loss, nausea, thirst, muscle weakness, and mental confusion are related to kidney failure, hypercalcemia, or other imbalances in blood chemicals. Fever and infections, especially of the upper respiratory tract and lungs, may arise as a result of the lower immunity that people with myeloma have.


Does multiple myeloma affect your legs?

Nerve damage: Myeloma proteins can be toxic to your nerves. This can lead to a condition called peripheral neuropathy that causes a pins-and-needles feeling, often in your legs and feet.

Does multiple myeloma affect the bowels?

Some people with multiple myeloma experience constipation. Multiple myeloma is a type of bone marrow cancer, but a small portion of people with this cancer also experience gastrointestinal (GI) involvement, leading to symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping, and constipation.