A 60 yo man has a pathological rib fx. He also complains of recurrent infection. BMA is done.
Labs: Ca2+ = 3.9mmol/L and ALP = 127u/L. what type of cell would be found in abdundance in
the marrow smear?
a. Plasma cell
b. Myeloid cell
c. Bence-jones protein
d. Megakaryocytes
e. Reticulocytes
Q. 1. What is the key.
Q. 2. What is the diagnosis?
Q. What are the points in favour of diagnosis?
Ans. 1. The key is A. Plasma cell.
Ans. 2. The diagnosis of multiple myeloma.
Ans. 3. Points in favour: i) age 60 yrs ii) pathological rib fracture (from metastases) iii) recurrent infection (due to B cell dysfunction (manifested as hypogammaglobulinemia), numerical and functional abnormalities of T cells, and dysfunction of natural killer cells), iv) raised calcium level.