Presenting signs and symptoms in multiple myeloma: High percentages of stage III among patients without apparent myeloma-associated symptoms |
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Authors: | F. Ong J. Hermans E. M. Noordijk P. W. Wijermans J. C. Kluin-Nelemans |
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Affiliation: | (1) Comprehensive Cancer Center West, Schipholweg 5A, 2316 XB Leiden, The Netherlands;(2) Department of Medical Statistics, University of Leiden, The Netherlands;(3) Department of Clinical Oncology, University Medical Center, Leiden;(4) Department of Hematology, Municipal Hospital Leyenburg, The Hague;(5) Department of Hematology, University Medical Center, Leiden |
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Abstract: | We studied the medical histories of 127 patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma included in a population-based registry of 945 patients with a paraprotein or multiple myeloma in the region of the Comprehensive Cancer Center West (CCCW). We defined patients not immediately diagnosed or delayed diagnosis as those patients in whom myeloma was not included in the initial differential diagnosis. We found that 37% belonged to this category. These patients more often had symptoms not associated with multiple myeloma. Since a surprising 51% of patients with delayed diagnosis turned out to have stage-Ill myeloma, the physician should be alert to the presence of this disease, despite the fact that co-morbidity may mask its presence. |
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Keywords: | Diagnosis Multiple myeloma Paraprotein Presentation Signs and symptoms |
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