title: Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance-making it understandable to patients.
abstract: Oncology nurses working in ambulatory care often encounter patients with nonmalignant hematologic disorders because the specialties of hematology and oncology are closely entwined. A variety of nonmalignant hematologic disorders can evolve into blood malignancies; therefore, close surveillance of nonmalignant hematologic disorders in an oncology/hematology clinic is important for early detection of malignancy. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is one nonmalignant, hematologic disorder that is usually aproblematic; however, it can evolve into a blood malignancy such as multiple myeloma or be associated with other chronic conditions. This article provides an overview of MGUS with a focus on implications for the oncology nurse and patient education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rule
authors.forename: Jeannine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brant
mesh_terms: D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D008998:Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations