Myelomatous Pleural Effusion: A Rare Involvement in Myeloma

Abstract

Extramedullary disease (EMD) incidence is between 7% and 18% in multiple myeloma. Overall survival of patients who develop EMD is significantly shorter than that of patients without EMD. Malignant myelomatous pleural effusions (MPEs) are rarely observed, occurring in less than 1% of cases. The diagnosis of MPE was confirmed by the detection of myeloma cells in the pleural fluid using flow cytometric analyses. We present a case of a 67-year-old male patient with IgGkappa myelom. After a few line treatment regimens, he was admitted to hospital with back pain and blurred consciousness, and pleural effusion was detected. Pleural fluid analysis showed malignant plasma cells. It is a rare presentation of multiple myeloma, but important in diagnosis.