Myeloma Flashcards
1
Q
What is Myeloma?
A
Cancer of the plasma cells which are a form of B cells
Results in a large type of a particular antibody being produced
More common in afro-caribbean and average age 70
2
Q
What are the symptoms?
A
Calcium
- hypercalcaemia
- constipation, nausea, abdo pain
Renal failure
- due to excessive immunoglobulin presence
- causes increased thirst and urination
Anaemia
- due to overcrowding in the bone marrow
- fatigue, SoB, headaches, palpitations
Bleeding
- overcrowding in bone marrow leads to thrombocytopenia
- causes easy bruising and bleeding
Bones
- bone infiltration leads to lytic lesions in bones
- causes bone pain (often back) and pathological fractures
Infections
-neutropenia leading to recurrent infections
3
Q
What investigations are needed?
A
Bloods
- FBC= pancytopenia
- U&Es= raised urea and creatinine
- Ca= raised
Blood film showing rouleaux formation
Serum/urine electrophoresis
- serum= presence of IgA and IgG
- urine= bence jones proteins
Bone marrow biopsy to confirm diagnosis
CT/MRI- assess bone involvement
XR- show raindrop skull
4
Q
What is the management?
A
Not fully curative
-relapsing and remitting disease
Young patients tend to have stem cell transplant and high dose chemo
Older patients tend to have chemo to control symptoms
Analgesia for pain
Bisphosphonates to prevent fractures
