title: Diffuse pulmonary parenchymal involvement in multiple myeloma: antemortem diagnosis.
abstract: Antemortem diagnosis of diffuse myelomatous pulmonary infiltrate is rare. We present one such case in which diagnosis was established from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid demonstrating the presence of monoclonal plasma cells. The diffuse involvement of the lungs by myeloma was confirmed at autopsy. The possibility of myelomatous pulmonary infiltrates was suggested by the absence of fever or failure to respond to antibiotics but regression with myeloma treatment. Analysis of BAL fluid for the presence of plasma cells and for cytoplasmic immunoglobulin DNA provides a noninvasive means of establishing the diagnosis. Diffuse parenchymal lesions in the lung due to myeloma should be entertained as a differential of pulmonary infiltrates.
authors.affiliation: Baylor College of Medicine, Cell & Gene Therapy, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. Kamble@sbcglobal.net
authors.forename: Rammurti
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kamble
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin