Gastrointestinal tumour masses due to multiple myeloma: a pathological mimic of malignant lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and evaluate two cases of gastrointestinal involvement by multiple myeloma.


RESULTS
Clinical details were obtained from patients records and routine histopathological sections were correlated with haematological and immunohistochemical investigations. As shown in the accompanying illustrations, myeloma manifests as large, atypical, non-cohesive cells which may mimic high-grade lymphoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Extraskeletal spread of multiple myeloma occurs more frequently than is currently recognized, but clinical involvement of gut is rarely reported. Gut involvement may occur soon after initial diagnosis of myeloma and may be of serious clinical consequence. Histologically, it may mimic high-grade lymphoma. Failure to recognize myelomatous involvement of gut may result in inappropriate surgery or oncological therapy.
Griffiths
A P
AP
Department of Histopathology/Cytopathology, Morriston Hospital NHS Trust, Swansea, UK.
Shepherd
N A
NA
Beddall
A
A
Williams
J G
JG
D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004379:Duodenal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000473:pathology*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary