Cytogenetic and survival analysis in 315 multiple myeloma patients; five with orbital and eight with extramedullary...

To describe cytogenetic abnormalities in five patients with orbital involvement of multiple myeloma (MM) and to determine if high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities were more prevalent in patients with extramedullary disease (EMD). The final goal was to determine predictors of poor survival in the entire cohort.

Retrospective cohort study of 315 patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma over a 9-year period at a single institution.

Males comprised 61% of the 315 patients and the majority (54.3%) were stage II at diagnosis of MM. Follow-up ranged 6 months to 18 years, mean 5.3 ± 3.7 years. Eight patients (2.5%), two of which had orbital involvement, developed EMD and an additional three patients had orbital involvement from adjacent bone disease. No genetic abnormality reached statistical significance between non-EMD and EMD groups. At the time of analysis 127 (41%) non-EMD patients and 6 (75%) EMD patients have died. The median survival time for the EMD group was 2 years, whereas for the non-EMD group it was 9 years (P-value of log rank test = .00015). Stage at time of MM diagnosis and age were associated with worse prognosis. Median survival for patients over 65 years of age was 7 years, compared to 12 years for patients 65 or younger (P-value for the log-ranked test <.001).

Cytogenetic abnormalities are described in five patients with orbital involvement of MM. No genetic abnormality reached statistical significance between non-EMD and EMD groups. EMD status, stage of MM at diagnosis and age are associated with poorer overall survival.Abbreviation: MM: Multiple Myeloma; EMD: Extramedullary disease; FISH: fluorescence in situ hybridization; B2M: beta-2 microglobulin; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; OS: overall survival.