Unusual combination of presenting features in multiple myeloma

Initial oral signs of multiple myeloma may involve pain, paraesthesia, swelling, tooth mobility and radiolucency. A 62-year-old female patient presented with the chief complaint of numbness in the right lower jaw. Intraoral examination revealed no abnormalities and her history was non-contributory. A panoramic radiograph revealed an irregular, small radiopacity in the premolar region and small, multiple and diffuse osteolytic alterations in the mandible. Computed tomography revealed maxillary and mandibular cortical destruction. An incisional biopsy was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was plasma cell myeloma and further investigations lead to the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Dysfunction of a nerve coursing through diseased bone is an ominous sign and may be an indication that a malignant process is present.