title: Diagnosis and risk stratification in multiple myeloma.
abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a tumor of monoclonal plasma cells, which produce a monoclonal antibody and expand predominantly in the bone marrow. Patients present with hypercalcemia, renal impairment, anemia, and/or bone disease. Only patients with symptomatic MM require therapy, whereas asymptomatic patients receive regular follow-up. Survival of patients with MM is very heterogeneous. The variety in outcome is explained by host factors as well as tumor-related characteristics reflecting biology of the MM clone and tumor burden. The identification of cytogenetic abnormalities by fluorescence in situ hybridization is currently the most important and widely available prognostic factor in MM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht 3584CX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Niels W C J
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: van de Donk
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, 's Gravendijkwal 230, Rotterdam 3015CE, The Netherlands. Electronic address: p.sonneveld@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sonneveld
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis
keywords: Chromosomal abnormalities; Diagnostic workup; Multiple myeloma; Prognosis; Risk stratification