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Review Question - QID 4550

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QID 4550 (Type "4550" in App Search)
A 61-year-old male has a 6 month history of low back pain with increasing left sciatic leg pain for 5 weeks. On examination, he has bone tenderness in the lumbar and thoracic spine. Neurological examination shows 4/5 weakness in the L5 distribution in the left leg. MRI images of the thoracic and lumbar spine are shown in Figures A. Follow-up laboratory studies show anemia associated with the presence of a serum monoclonal protein. What would be the next most appropriate investigation in the diagnostic work-up of this patient?
  • A

CT scan of head

1%

44/3570

Urine electrophoresis

43%

1526/3570

Lower extremity electromyelography

1%

38/3570

Lumbar puncture

1%

30/3570

Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy

54%

1914/3570

  • A

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The patient's clinical history, imaging, and lab values are indicative of multiple myeloma. The next most appropriate investigation for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma would be bone marrow aspiration and biopsy.

A diagnosis of multiple myeloma may be based on the Durie and Salmon criteria. The criterion considers findings of plasmacytomas on tissue biopsy, plasmacytosis in bone marrow, monoclonal immunoglobulin spike on serum or urine electrophoresis, and radiographic evidence of lytic bone lesions (commonly in the spine, long bones and skull).

Walker et al. looked at the effectiveness of MRI on the clinical diagnosis of multiple myeloma. They showed that MRI detected focal lesions in 74% of cases, compared to 56% with standard metastatic bone surveys (e.g. radiographs) of imaged anatomic sites.

Palumbo et al. reviewed multiple myeloma. They state that bony lesions are evident on MRI in 80% of patients with newly diagnosed disease. Anemia, which is present in about 73% of patients at diagnosis, is related to bone marrow infiltration and/or renal dysfunction.

Figures A shows T2 MRI images of the thoracic and lumbar spine with diffuse lucencies throughout. Illustration A and B demonstrate a sheet of round plasma cells consistent with the histology of multiple myeloma. There is an eccentric nucleus, prominent nucleolus, and clock-face organization of chromatin. Illustration C shows the most common sites of multiple myeloma in the body.

Incorrect Answers:
Answer 1: A CT head is not necessary. Bony lesions in the skull can typically be detected on radiographs.
Answer 2: Urine electrophoresis would not be needed as there was presence of a serum monoclonal protein.
Answer 3: Electromyelography technique is used to evaluate the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles, which can help diagnose peripheral nerve damage. This would not be used for the diagnostic work-up of multiple myeloma, however it may be used as adjunctive test for the investigation of his left leg sciatica.
Answer 4: There is no evidence to suggest lumbar puncture is indicated for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma.

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