Multiple Myeloma Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatments

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a haematological malignancy characterised by the clonal expansion of monoclonal immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells in the bone marrow (BM). MM is associated with lytic bone lesions, anaemia, immunodeficiency, and renal impairment. Multiple myeloma accounts for over 10% of all hematologic malignancies and about 1% of all cancers. Multiple myeloma remains mostly incurable despite conventional intensive high dose chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The costs associated with multiple myeloma are among the highest. This book discusses the diagnosis of multiple myeloma along with the risk factors involved and the treatments available.