Abstract
#1. The myeloma is defined, a short history of the
disease is given and the possibility of
different types discussed. ||
#2. Reports of 29 cases of myeloma are given and
misdiagnosed cases, 2 cases of chloroma and
1 case of plasma cell leukaemia. ||
#3. The relationship between the malignant cell of
myeloma (the myeloma cell) and trie plasma cell
is discussed; a short history of the plasma
cell and a description is given; the myeloma
cell and the plasma cell are compared. ||
#4. Tne myeloma cell and the plasma cell are con -
sidered to be quite different and for this
reason the name plasmacytoma is discouraged. ||
#5. The myeloma cell is probably a malignant
haemocytoblast and the name haemocytoblastoma
is suggested for the tumour. ||
#6. The myeloma is mainly a disease of bone marrow,
and is confined to bone marrow, but metastases
to the viscera may occur and tumours of this
type outside the skeletal system are recognised]. ||
#7. The association between myeloma and leukaemia is
discussed with special reference to plasma
cell leukaemia. ||
#8. The biochemical findings in cases of myeloma
are described, with particular attention paid to
the plasma proteins. The meaning of hyper -
proteinaemia in myelomatosis is discussed and
the association between this phenomenon and
Bence-Jones proteinuria and the blood
sedimentation rate is discussed. ||
#9. The association between serum proteins and
amyloid is described. ||
#10. The importance of X -ray photography in recognising
the pathological process is stressed and the
necessity of verification by sternal puncture
is stressed. ||
#11. The interpretation of the differential count in
bone narrow smears is discussed and a method
of puncturing the sternum is described. ||
#12. Prognosis is poor in the multiple myelomatosis
and so- called solitary myeloma, but good in the
extra-medullary type. ||
#13. Treatment is unsatisfactory. X -rays, however,
do give the patient a loner lease of life but
they are not curative.
