Thoracic and pulmonary abnormalities in multiple myeloma. a review of 958 cases
Kintzer, J.S.; Rosenow, E.C.; Kyle, R.A.
Archives of Internal Medicine 138(5): 727-730
1978
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9926 PMID: 646535 Document Number: 131832
Review of the records of 958 patients with multiple myeloma disclosed thoracic skeletal or pleuropulmonary abnormalities or both in 443 patients (46%). The abnormalities were an initial finding on 25% of the chest roentgenograms. The most common finding, exclusive of plasmacytomas, was thoracic skeletal abnormality in 28% (the initial finding in 15%)--osteolytic lesions being the most frequent abnormality. Localized or diffuse pulmonary infiltrates, most often caused by infections, were present in 10%. Four patients had a diffuse infiltrate thought to be caused by a plasma cell infiltrate (proven in one). In 113 patients, plasmacytomas were seen (intramedullary 102, extramedullary 11)--as an initial finding in 8%. Fifty-eight patients (6%) had pleural effusions. Eight patients with pleural effusion caused by myeloma are added to the eight cases reported in the literature.