Dyspnea, massive effusion and lytic rib lesion as initial presentation of multiple myeloma in a young man.
Multiple myeloma, a disorder commonly encountered in elderly patients, represents a malignant proliferation of plasma cells that primarily affects bone marrow. Pleural effusion as the presenting manifestation of the disease is uncommon. The authors report a case of multiple myeloma with unusual features presenting at a relatively young age with massive spontaneous hemothorax and multiple thoracic masses completely obscuring rib shadow on plain chest imaging. The patient demonstrated a good response to melphalan chemotherapy without recurrence of effusion or the need for additional chemical or surgical pleural interventions.
Division of Respirology, Al-Adan Hospital, Ahmadi, Kuwait. dr_alshatti@hotmail.com
Mohammed H
MH
Alshati
Ramesh
R
Kumar
Shreeram
S
Kannan
D000328:Adult; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D008558:Melphalan