An atypical presentation of multiple myeloma in a young patient with pathological fracture

Abstract

We report a case of a 34-year-old male with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis and pathological fracture of shaft of long bone presented with symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection. The patient did not have any typical symptoms of multiple myeloma or hypercalcemia on presentation. Throughout his hospitalization, his serum globulin level was very high along with mild normocytic normochromic anemia and mild renal function derangement without apparent cause. Acute phase markers of inflammation, for example, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were not elevated in this patient and there was no lytic lesion in bone radiographs. He was eventually diagnosed as a case of stage 3 multiple myeloma by immuno-fixation electrophoresis and bone marrow study. Multiple myeloma represents a pathology of diverse distribution and has varied unusual presenting symptoms. We consider it an underdiagnosed disease often missed especially in young because it is not considered by clinicians.

Keywords

• hypercalcemia
• multiple myeloma
• plasma cells
• β2 microglobulin