Multiple Myeloma - Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Multiple Myeloma is often diagnosed after a routine blood tests. Sometimes the disease is detected after an X- ray for a broken bone or because of other symptoms.


The following are the tests employed to diagnose multiple myeloma -

• Recording the medical and family history followed by a physical exam is a routine step in the diagnosis of multiple Myeloma.
• Blood tests are carried out to detect

1. Blood cell levels: plasma cells numbers are usually high
2. Level of Calcium: high in MM patients
3. Iron levels- Majority of people with myeloma have

   anemia,

4. High levels of certain proteins such as M protein, beta-2-microglobulin, and others can be detected through the blood tests

• Urine tests are done fora type of M protein called Bence Jones protein in the urine. If the level of these proteins are high they can damage the kidney.
• X-rays are taken to check for broken or thinning bones.
• CT scans and MRI are other tools employed in the diagnosis of multiple myeloma
• Bone marrow biopsy is mandatory to diagnose the presence of myeloma cells. The bone marrow tissue is usually aspirated from the hip bone by using a needle, after applying local anesthesia. This tissue is microscopically examined by a pathologist.

Reference:

1. Lancet. 2009 Jul 25;374(9686):324-39. Epub 2009 Jun 21. Multiple myeloma., Raab MS, Podar K, Breitkreutz I, Richardson PG, Anderson KC, LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics and Jerome Lipper Center for Multiple Myeloma Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

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