Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cell, a type of B lymphocyte responsible for producing antibodies that take part in the immune response. A treatable but rarely curable disease, multiple myeloma—also called plasma cell myeloma, myelomatosis or Kahler's disease—is characterized by the overgrowth of malignant plasma cells , mostly in the bone marrow . Although multiple myeloma usually involves the bones, it must be distinguished from cancers that begin in another organ such as the breast or lung and then spread to the bones.
Multiple myeloma is an uncommon malignancy, making up only 1 percent of all cases of cancer. In a population of 1 million people, only 40 cases would be found each year. There have been reports that the incidence of myeloma has increased two- to threefold during the past 40 years, but careful studies from the United States and Europe suggest that the incidence has not truly changed. The apparent increase is most likely due to more and better medical facilities and diagnostic techniques.
Types Ninety percent of multiple myeloma cases involve the bone marrow. There are several types, each with its distinctive features and each producing a variety of diagnostic findings and symptoms:
