Solutions
Multiple myeloma is a bone marrow (T/B) cell cancer characterized by the proliferation of malignant
______ cells that can aggregate into tumor masses which distribute and cause multiple organ damage
B; plasma (malignant plasma cells from one clone of B cells make an abnormally large amount of 1
type of immunoglobulin)
What are plasmacytomas?
A) aberrant antibodies depositing in boney structures
B) lymph nodes swollen d/t the proliferation of malignant B cells
C) deposition of clonal plasma cells in soft tissue sites
C (deposition of clonal plasma cells in soft tissue sites)
Multiple myeloma results from abnormal and ineffective ________ production
immunoglobulin (eat the bone; causes damage to kidneys d/t clearing of so many antibodies)
Which of the following is FALSE regarding the epidemiology of multiple myeloma?
A) 1% of all malignancies
B) median age of diagnosis is 70yo
C) more common is Ashkenazi Jews
D) second most prevalent blood cancer after NHL
C (occurs across all races and all geography) (median survival rate of 33 months)
T/F Multiple myeloma is currently considered to be incurable
true (very few cases are survivable with bone marrow transplant; however it is treatable)
Which of the following is NOT a common presentation of multiple myeloma?
A) renal failure
B) spinal cord compression and pathologic fractures
C) AMS d/t hypocalcemia
D) weight loss
C (AMS d/t HYPERcalcemia)
Which of the following lab results are most consistent with multiple myeloma?
A) microcytic anemia with proteinemia and renal insufficiency
B) macrocytic anemia with proteinemia and liver insufficiency
C) normocytic anemia with proteinemia and renal insufficiency
D) normocytic anemia with thrombocytopenia and leukocytosis
C (normocytic anemia with proteinemia and renal insufficiency d/t increased excretion of antibodies)
T/F An M spikes on a SPEP helps both diagnose multiple myeloma and measure how much disease is
present
true
A bone marrow biopsy is indicated with >(#)% plasma cell involvement
10(%) (the number indicative of myeloma)