IgD multiple myeloma: a cure at 21 years

A 52-year-old man with a plasmacytoma of the body of T-10 in February 1965 returned 6 months later with multiple myeloma characterized by bone pain, osteolytic lesions, and IgD lambda monoclonal protein in the serum, 6.1 g of Bence Jones protein in the urine, and 21% plasma cells in the bone marrow. The M-protein and bone pain disappeared within 6 weeks after therapy with melphalan and prednisone was started. Therapy was discontinued in December 1974. Immunoelectrophoreses and immunofixations of the serum and urine over the years revealed no monoclonal protein. A mediastinal tumor developed, and the patient died of respiratory insufficiency on October 23, 1986. Autopsy revealed a large bronchogenic carcinoma of the right lung extending to the mediastinum, trachea, and esophagus. There was no evidence of multiple myeloma. This patient had responded rapidly to chemotherapy and had no recurrence of myeloma during a 21-year follow-up.