2016 Volume 65 Issue 6 Pages 685-689
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, which presents with symptoms such as anemia, osteolytic bone lesions, and renal dysfunction. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in multiple myeloma is very uncommon. We report a case of CNS involvement in multiple myeloma, in which the detection of abnormal cells in cerebrospinal fluid in our laboratory resulted in early treatment. The patient was a 65-year-old man who had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma by bone marrow examination. Systemic malignant tumors were temporarily reduced in size or disappeared after chemotherapy. However, many abnormal cells such as plasma cells were morphologically confirmed in the cerebrospinal fluid after regular follow up over several months. Immediately, we contacted the attending doctor and performed additional tests. From the results of flow cytometric analysis and cytology, he was diagnosed as having CNS involvement in multiple myeloma. A quick report of the detection of abnormal cells in the cerebrospinal fluid results in the early diagnosis of CNS involvement. Treatment choice and prognosis may be affected by the presence or absence of CNS involvement. Therefore, careful observation of morphologically abnormal cells in the cerebrospinal fluid is very important.
