Head and neck manifestations of myeloma in Nigerians

A study on the clinicopathologic features of myeloma as it manifests in the head and neck region was conducted over a 15-year period. A total of six patients were seen and they constituted 20% of all myeloma cases. The mean age was 41.5 years, three were males and three were females. Clinical presentation was varied and included swelling, epistaxis and gingival bleeding. The duration of symptom ranged from 3 months to 6 years. Definitive diagnosis was extramedullary myelomatosis in three patients, multiple myeloma in two patients while one patient had solitary plasmacytoma of bone. Chemotherapy alone was the treatment modality in two patients, one had surgery combined with chemotherapy and one patient had only supportive therapy. Two patients did not receive treatment, as they requested for discharge against medical advice. One patient followed up for a period of 1 year recovered with residual neurological deficits. This study confirms the rarity of myeloma in the head and neck region and where it occurs; it is most likely multiple myeloma or extramedullary myelomatosis. In this part of the world, mortality rate is aggravated by late presentation and inability to afford chemotherapy.