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Description
A 67-year-old asymptomatic man was found to have a total plasma protein level of 10.2 mg/dL on routine work-up. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) revealed an M spike of 4 g/L and an elevated IgG level of 4759, and free kappa chain of 170.72 (H), free lambda chain of 3.15 (L) and kappa:lambda ratio of 54.20. Bone marrow biopsy showed a kappa light chain restricted plasma cell neoplasm involving 20%–30% of marrow cellularity. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) test demonstrated polysomy of chromosome 9 in 70%, trisomy 11 in 57% and trisomy 7 in 50.5% of cells. Skeletal survey showed generalised mild osteopaenia with heterogeneous appearance of the osseous structures and a suspicious lytic lesion in the pelvis. To investigate bone lesion, full-body positron emission tomography scan demonstrated multiple hypermetabolic skeletal lesions, with the dominant one involving the C2 vertebra showing a maximum standardised uptake value (SUV) of 11, suggesting viable myeloma. Neck CT confirmed lytic lesions in the body of the C2 vertebra, with intact cortical margins and no evidence of structural compromise (figure 1), so it was managed conservatively.
Myelomatous spine involvement is common, but cervical spine is the least common site.1 MRI better detects bone marrow involvement and extramedullary presentations.2 Myeloma lesions can be easily identified on MRI; the advantage of the CT scan is in its superior performance regarding bone integrity and stability, especially in cases of spine involvement. Whole-body ultra low-dose CT represents a useful diagnostic tool in the detection of spinal involvement of patients with multiple myeloma.3
Learning points
On diagnosis, patients with multiple myeloma routinely receive a skeletal survey, but positron emission tomography and CT scans are superior in detecting bone lesions.
Myeloma lesions can be easily identified on MRI. The main advantage of the CT scan is its superior performance regarding bone integrity and stability, especially in the spine.
Myelomatous cervical spine lesions are rare, and critical-appearing lytic lesions in the body of the cervical spine vertebra with intact cortical margins without evidence of structural compromise can be managed conservatively.
Footnotes
Contributors SSB contributed as the first author. SSB, AI, ANA and FA planned and designed the study. SSB, AI and ANA searched for relevant studies. SSB and AI developed the manuscript. ANA helped with interpretation of image. FA helped with final edits. FA is the senior author for this manuscript and will serve as corresponding author.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.