Multiple Myeloma

STAGING

Although staging malignancies is an important part of developing therapeutic strategies for many malignancies, staging has not been as significant in determining therapy for multiple myeloma. Localized myeloma (solitary plasmacytomas) are most typically treated with radiation therapy alone and followed carefully. However, in true multiple myeloma staging has been used to help in determining prognosis and at times the aggressiveness of therapy. The most typical staging system utilized is called the Durie-Salmon staging system. Different signs of disease such as anemia, calcium level, kidney function and degree of bone disease are used to determine the stage at presentation or at original diagnosis. The staging for multiple myeloma can be developed from the basic studies performed during the diagnostic evaluation.