title: Continuous multiple vertebral compression fractures in multiple myeloma patient.
abstract: Multiple myeloma is a B-cell origin tumor characterized by hypercalcemia, osteolytic bony lesions, and pathologic fractures. Back pain is one of the most common presenting symptoms of multiple myeloma and about 60% of patients have vertebral involvement at the time of diagnosis7). Minimally invasive surgeries such as vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are effective to relieve pain and improve the quality of life when a compression fracture occurs in multiple myeloma patients. We report a case of continuous multiple compression fractures associated with multiple myeloma. We should check for the possibility of pathologic vertebral fractures resulting from multiple myeloma in non-osteoporotic compression fracture patients, and especially in cases of continuous fracture occurring in relatively non-elderly patients, even though a history of trauma may be present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Moon
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Wan
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul Veterans Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kwan Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: Compression fracture; Multiple myeloma; Vertebroplasty