As we journey through the complexities of the human body, we often encounter deviations from the norm, such as cancer, where certain cells evade the body's regulatory mechanisms. While leukemia is a familiar term encompassing various blood cancer-related conditions, there's another entity less commonly known but equally significant: myeloma. Unlike conventional cancer presentations, myeloma doesn't manifest as a palpable mass but rather originates within the bones, specifically the ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and pelvic bones, affecting plasma cells. These specialized cells, normally tasked with antibody production for immune defense, undergo aberrant transformations, leading to the production of abnormal proteins and ensuing complications. Let's delve deeper into the intricacies of this condition, its implications, and its various aliases like solitary plasmacytoma or the more widespread multiple myeloma.
Let’s recapitulate and remember what we learned so far…
- Sometimes, some cells escape the normal mechanisms of our bodies. We call this cancer.
- White cells have their origin in our bones (bone marrow) and from there, they travel to our blood system.
- We know the word “Leukaemia” which is an umbrella term for blood cancer-related cells.
Now, have you ever heard of myeloma? Or multiple myeloma?
Myeloma does not have the typical image of cancer. It does not form a lumpy tissue occupying some cavity. It is a cancer that originated in our bones (ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and bones of the pelvis) plasma cells.
- Plasma cells’ normal function is to produce antibodies to recognize and attack specific germs
- Abnormal plasma cells produce abnormal proteins, which can cause some complications
Fig. 1 - Myeloma of the bone marrow. Some plasma cells (P) can be seen around other hematopoietic-formed cells. Motic BA410E 100X o.i., Moticam S12. Image credit: Willem Cramer
These abnormal plasma cells grow and proliferate out of control, and they do it fast, weakening our immune system since our bones are no longer producing the same amount of the other white and red cells. Also, since the normal function of the bone it’s disturbed, it also compromises its structure and multiple fractures are common.
If the myeloma it’s located in one bone it is called a solitary plasmacytoma. When there are multiple plasmacytomas, then the name of multiple myeloma arose.
Also, it can be called “myelomatosis”, “medullary plasmacytoma” or “Kahler’s disease.
Fig. 2 - Low power magnification of multiple myeloma of the bone marrow. Motic BA410E 20X, MoticamS S12.
Image credit: Willem Cramer
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