The tumor-forming type of multiple myeloma. II. Clinical profile and therapeutic effect.

In the six cases of tumor-forming type as described in the part I of this series, the estimated ages at disease onset ranged from 55 to 82 years old. Tumor-forming sites consisted of three cases each in skull and ribs, and one each in pelvis and palate. Bone x-rays revealed usually larger punched-out lesions adjacent to smaller punched-out lesions with tumor formation corresponding to the larger lesion. Plasma cells averaged 5.8% in myelogram, and monoclonal immunoglobulin consisted all of IgG. Clinical stages were in IA in four patients vs. IIA in two, and single or combined chemotherapy worked well on all the patients. A comparative study on decrease of monoclonal immunoglobulin value against chemotherapy between tumor-forming and non-tumor-forming types was made. The uniqueness of the tumor-forming type was emphasized to arouse attention to appropriate therapeutic measures for these patients.