• A bone marrow-based plasma cell neoplasm characterized by a serum monoclonal protein and skeletal destruction with osteolytic lesions, pathological fractures, bone pain, hypercalcemia, and anemia. Clinical variants include non-secretory myeloma, smoldering myeloma, indolent myeloma, and plasma cell leukemia. (who, 2001)
  • A malignancy of mature plasma cells engaging in monoclonal immunoglobulin production. It is characterized by hyperglobulinemia, excess bence-jones proteins (free monoclonal immunoglobulin light chains) in the urine, skeletal destruction, bone pain, and fractures. Other features include anemia; hypercalcemia; and renal insufficiency.
  • A malignant neoplasm of the bone marrow composed of plasma cells.
  • A type of cancer that begins in plasma cells (white blood cells that produce antibodies).
  • Malignant neoplasm of plasma cells usually arising in the bone marrow and manifested by skeletal destruction, bone pain, and the presence of anomalous immunoglobulins.
  • Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell. These cells are part of your immune system, which helps protect the body from germs and other harmful substances. In time, myeloma cells collect in the bone marrow and in the solid parts of bone.no one knows the exact causes of multiple myeloma, but it is more common in older people and african-americans. Early symptoms may include
    • bone pain, often in the back or ribs
    • broken bones
    • weakness or fatigue
    • weight loss
    • repeated infections
    myeloma is hard to cure. Treatment may help control symptoms and complications. Options include chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation and radiation. nih: national cancer institute