What are the symptoms of multiple myeloma?

Introduction

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a type of cancer that originates in plasma cells, a kind of white blood cell found in bone marrow. This disease is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal plasma cells, which can lead to a variety of symptoms due to bone damage, organ dysfunction, and other systemic effects.

Key Insights

Bone Pain and Fractures:
- Bone pain is a common symptom, often due to tumors within the bone and bone destruction, leading to an increased risk of fractures .
Hypercalcemia:
- The destruction of bone tissue can result in elevated calcium levels in the blood, causing symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, fatigue, muscle weakness, and confusion .
Anemia and Fatigue:
- Many patients experience anemia, which can lead to chronic fatigue and general weakness .
Renal Insufficiency:
- Renal dysfunction is a common manifestation, often due to the high levels of abnormal proteins produced by the cancerous plasma cells .
Neurological Symptoms:
- Neurological symptoms such as numbness, weakness in the arms or legs, and paresthesia can occur if tumors interfere with nerves near the bones .
Weight Loss and Systemic Symptoms:
- Patients may also present with systemic symptoms like weight loss, fever, and malaise .
Oral Manifestations:
- Oral symptoms can include swelling, pain, increased tooth mobility, and gingival enlargement with bleeding tendency. The mandible is more frequently involved than the maxilla .
Other Rare Symptoms:
- Less common initial presentations can include pulmonary embolism, hyperviscosity syndrome, amyloidosis, and isolated nerve palsies .

Conclusion

Multiple myeloma presents with a variety of symptoms primarily due to bone damage, elevated calcium levels, anemia, and renal dysfunction. Common symptoms include bone pain, fractures, fatigue, and neurological issues. Less frequently, patients may experience oral manifestations, systemic symptoms, and rare conditions like pulmonary embolism. Early recognition of these diverse symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and management of the disease.

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What are the symptoms of multiple myeloma?

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma can cause bone pain, increased fracture risk, numbness, and muscle weakness, as well as lead to nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle weakness, and confusion.

Prevalence of symptoms in patients with multiple myeloma: a systematic review and meta‐analysis

Multiple myeloma patients experience a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, depression, and anxiety, due to disease and treatment-related toxicities.

Presenting Signs of Multiple Myeloma and the Effect of Diagnostic Delay on the Prognosis

Back pain, fatigue, weight loss, or abnormal lab results should raise a "red flag" warning of multiple myeloma, but time to diagnosis does not impact initial stage or prognosis.

Beyond the CRAB symptoms: a study of presenting clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma.

Non-CRAB manifestations of multiple myeloma, which include neuropathy, extramedullary involvement, hyperviscosity syndrome, concomitant amyloidosis, hemorrhage/coagulopathy, systemic symptoms, primary plasma cell leukemia, infections, cryoglob

[Multiple myeloma with oral manifestations--report of two cases].

Multiple myeloma can cause oral manifestations, such as gingival swelling, bleeding, and pain, and should be considered in cases of suspected multiple myeloma.

[Isolated sixth nerve palsy--presenting sign of multiple myeloma].

Isolated sixth nerve palsy can present as the presenting sign of multiple myeloma, potentially preventing unnecessary surgical intervention and delay in appropriate treatment.

A Case of Multiple Myeloma Occurring as a Buccal Mass.

Multiple myeloma can present as a buccal mass, with symptoms including pain, anemia, malaise, and weight loss, and can be surgically removed.

Anaesthesia of the right lower hemilip as a first manifestation of multiple myeloma. Presentation of a clinical case.

Multiple myeloma of the mandible can present with anaesthesia of the right lower hemilip, making it an unusual presentation for the disease.

Pulmonary Embolism: A Rare Initial Manifestation of Multiple Myeloma

Pulmonary embolism as the initial manifestation of multiple myeloma is extremely rare, but may indicate underlying bone damage or anemia.

Unusual combination of presenting features in multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma can present with numbness in the lower jaw and radiographic changes in the mandible, suggesting a malignant process may be present.

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