Pleural effusion as first extra-medullary clinical presentation of an occult multiple myeloma: The role of medical thoracoscopy

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is a malignant neoplasm of plasma cells that usually invades the bone marrow replacing normal bone marrow and producing large amounts of light chains of immunoglobulins (Ig) [1]. Clinical manifestations are related to the accumulation of these proteins in vital organs such as kidney and heart. Pleural effusion may be a sign of chest involvement that occurs in approximately 6% of patients with Known multiple myeloma [2,3]. We present the case of an 80-year- old man with pleural effusion as first extra-medullary clinical presentation of an occult multiple myeloma.