Pediatric Multiple Myeloma

  • Etiology: Multifocal monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells in red bone marrow
  • Imaging Radiograph: 3 patterns:
    — Multiple well-circumscribed and punched out lytic lesions with endosteal scalloping when abutting the cortex which are primarily in axial skeleton and proximal appendicular skeleton
    — Diffuse skeletal osteopenia
    — Solitary large and expansile lesion most commonly in vertebral body or pelvis (plasmacytoma)
  • DDX: Lucent bone lesions – FEGNOMASHIC
  • Complications: Pathologic fracture, recurrent infections due to leukopenia
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical: Presentation is CRAB – C for hypercalcemia, R for renal failure, A for anemia, B for bone disease

Radiology Cases of Multiple Myeloma

Radiograph of multiple myeloma of skull
Lateral radiograph of the skull shows multiple well circumscribed lytic lesions throughout the skull.