Osteosclerotic myeloma with polyneuropathy and ectopic secretion of calcitonin

Abstract

The authors report the clinical observation of a patient with radiological features of an IgA with light chains type lambda osteosclerotic myeloma, associated with progressive sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Attention is drawn to these rare sclerotic forms of myeloma and the high frequency of associated neuropathies. In this case, marked hypercalcitoninemia was discovered with no other abnormality of the phosphocalcic balance. The authors advance the hypothesis of an ectopic secretion of calcitonin by tumoral plasma cells and discuss the potential role of this hormone in the pathogenesis of myeloma osteosclerosis. In addition, the fixation of the M-Component on the peripheral nerve trunks is demonstrated by means of immunofluorescence techniques, thus directly supporting the immunological conception of dysglobulinemic neuropathies.