Bilateral pleural effusion as an initial manifestation of multiple myeloma: A case report and literature review

  • Authors:
    • Ai‑Gui Jiang
    • Yu‑Tian Yang
    • Xiao‑Yan Gao
    • Hui‑Yu Lu
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  • Published online on: January 15, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2184
  • Pages: 1040-1042
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Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a rare type of malignant hematological neoplasm. Although primarily involving the bone marrow, MM has a significant risk of metastasizing to other organs and may present with various clinical symptoms. However, the involvement of the respiratory system in the course of MM is extremely uncommon, particularly presenting with bilateral pleural effusion as the sole initial manifestation, which may result in a delayed diagnosis of MM. The present study describes the extremely rare case of a patient with MM presenting with myelomatous pleural effusion (MPE). The 78‑year‑old patient was admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Taizhou People's Hospital (Taizhou, China) in March 2014, complaining of persistent dyspnea. Following admission, chest computed tomography scans revealed bilateral pleural effusion and a small amount of pericardial effusion, but no evident mass lesion. Thoracentesis was performed and the resulting pleural effusion was exudative and slightly bloody. In the following cytological examination, myeloma cells were identified in the pleural effusion. The patient was diagnosed definitively with MM following a histopathological study of the bone marrow aspiration. Therefore, the observations of the present case report may promote the consideration of MM in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained and refractory pleural effusion. The present study also reviewed the literature with regard to the association between MM and pleural effusion.
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March-2015
Volume 9 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Jiang AG, Yang YT, Gao XY and Lu HY: Bilateral pleural effusion as an initial manifestation of multiple myeloma: A case report and literature review. Exp Ther Med 9: 1040-1042, 2015
APA
Jiang, A., Yang, Y., Gao, X., & Lu, H. (2015). Bilateral pleural effusion as an initial manifestation of multiple myeloma: A case report and literature review. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 9, 1040-1042. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2184
MLA
Jiang, A., Yang, Y., Gao, X., Lu, H."Bilateral pleural effusion as an initial manifestation of multiple myeloma: A case report and literature review". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 9.3 (2015): 1040-1042.
Chicago
Jiang, A., Yang, Y., Gao, X., Lu, H."Bilateral pleural effusion as an initial manifestation of multiple myeloma: A case report and literature review". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 9, no. 3 (2015): 1040-1042. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2184