Where Is the 'Oma' in Multiple Myeloma? Origins and Limitations of some Myeloma-Related Terminology
Jecko Thachil1, David P Steensma2
1Department of Haematology Manchester University Hospitals Manchester UK.
Background:
Multiple myeloma, often simply called 'myeloma', is a clonal plasma cell malignancy that constitutes about one-tenth of all cancers managed by haematologists. Although the disease was first clearly described in the first half of the 19th century, it was only called multiple myeloma several decades later.
Aims:
This review summarizes myeloma-related terminology.
Content:
Several terms are commonly used in myeloma clinics, including paraprotein, immunoglobulins, kappa and lambda chains and plasma cells; other terms, such as dysproteinemia, are now less commonly used.
Summary:
In this review, we look at the origins and limitations of these different myeloma-related terminologies.
Trial Registration:
The authors confirm clinical trial registration is not needed for this submission.
