'Senile' myeloma: a possible variant form of multiple myeloma.
Fifty-four patients were recognized as having multiple myeloma after the coincidental finding of a serum and/or urine M component on agarose gel electrophoresis during a survey for monoclonal gammopathies of a large random hospital population sample over 70 yr of age. Analysis of the presenting features and the clinical characteristics revealed that about two-thirds of the myeloma patients over 80 yr were asymptomatic at the time of the discovery of their monoclonal gammopathy. Follow-up studies and serial evaluations of changes in the myeloma cell mass without chemotherapy showed a subset of the older patients exhibiting a distinct pattern of slow tumor growth. The results of the study would suggest the possible existence of a variant form in the advanced age group of myeloma patients. This 'senile' type of myeloma would appear to be characterized primarily by non-specific presenting features, a fairly symptom-poor status, and a relatively protracted and benign course without chemotherapy.
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000032:analysis
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D009194:Myeloma Proteins