Multiple myeloma with polyneuropathy and osteosclerotic lesions

Abstract

Theneuropathy ofmultiple myeloma is, asVictor, Banker, andAdams(1958) stressed, 'acurious and little knownaffection ofperipheral nerves whichis onlyobscurely related tomultiple myeloma, for their disease ...doesnotinanywaydepend upon compression of nervousstructures by tumour tissue'. Theincreasing interest intherelationship between malignant diseases andneuropathy has considerably broadened thisfield, although the nature oftheassociation isstill purely speculative (Brain, 1963). Thedataavailable atthepresent time seemtoindicate somerelationship between thetype ofmalignancy, itslocation, andthemannerinwhich thenervous system isaffected (Croft andWilkinson, 1963). Thedevelopment ofa 'toxic metabolic' neuropathy inpatients withmultiple myeloma isan uncommoncomplication. However, evenmoreunusual inthis disease isthemanifestation ofosteoblastic rather thanosteolytic lesions. Itisthepurpose ofthis article toreport theclinical andpathological findings ofa patient withmyelomatosis whoexhibited botha polyneuropathy andosteosclerotic lesions, inthehopethat itmayfurther theknowledge ofthese unusual manifestations ofmalignancy.