Authors
Brianna K. Hite, BS
Medical Student
Jeffrey A. Vos, MD
H. James Williams, MD
Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Laboratory Medicine
Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center
West Virginia University
Primary Audience: Pathologists and Clinical Scientists
Secondary Audience: Residents, Laboratory Technologist/Scientist (Includes all sub-specialty areas), Students, Pathologist Assistants, Laboratory Directors and Educators
Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:
· explain the epidemiology and the various clinical presentations of plasma cell myeloma (PCM);
· describe the morphologic features of PCM and the role of immunohistochemical stains and in situ hybridization studies;
· explain the utility of laboratory tests required to support the diagnosis of plasma cell myeloma, specifically those related to determining end-organ damage (eg, anemia, hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency) and biomarkers of malignancy (serum/urine protein electrophoresis, immunofixation electrophoresis, serum free light chains);
· discuss diagnostic criteria for PCM (CRAB criteria, morphology, laboratory tests) according to the International Myeloma Working Group;
· discuss predictive/prognostic factors for PCM; and
· discuss the role of ancillary testing (eg, serum, urine, and immunofixation electrophoresis, serum free light chains, radiologic survey, cytogenetic data) in the monitoring, treatment, and prognostication of PCM.