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Bilateral myelomatous pleural effusions: an unusual presentation in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma
  1. Ekaterina Proskuriakova1,
  2. Megan Adams2,
  3. Vijay Ketan Reddy3 and
  4. Mohammed Kassem3
  1. 1Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  2. 2Department of Internal Medicine, Ross University School of Medicine, Two Tree Hill St Michael, Barbados
  3. 3Oncology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Ekaterina Proskuriakova; ekaterinaproskuriakova{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Multiple myeloma is a rare haematological malignancy characterised by the clonal proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow. Typical manifestations include bone pain, fatigue and monoclonal protein elevation in serum and urine. Less than 1% of cases develop myelomatous pleural effusion, a severe complication indicative of advanced disease and a very poor prognosis.

Here, we present a case of a woman with a new diagnosis of multiple myeloma complicated by bilateral myelomatous pleural effusions as the initial presentation. This case underscores the diverse clinical spectrum of multiple myeloma, the significance of timely diagnosis and the threatening implications associated with myelomatous pleural effusions.

  • Haematology (incl blood transfusion)
  • Pleural infection
  • Respiratory medicine

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Footnotes

  • X @ekaterinapros94

  • Contributors The following authors were responsible for drafting of the text, sourcing and editing of clinical images, investigation results, drawing original diagrams and algorithms, and critical revision for important intellectual content—EP, MA and VKR. The following author gave final approval of the manuscript—MK.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.