IADR Abstract Archives
Multiple Myeloma of the Jaw Bones and Oral Cavity: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Radiological Features in a Retrospective Study of 10 Cases
Objectives: Plasmacytoma of the jaw bones and oral cavity comprises three distinct entities: multiple myeloma (MM), solitary plasmacytoma of bone, and extramedullary plasmacytoma. Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disease characterized by abnormal proliferation of plasma cells. In this study, based on a retrospective analysis of 10 cases, we aim to identify the epidemiological, clinical, and radiological features of multiple myeloma affecting the jaw bones and oral cavity.
Methods: All cases diagnosed as multiple myeloma were identified and retrieved from the records of the Dento-Maxillofacial Radiology Department, University Dental Clinic of Monastir, Tunisia. The clinical history of each case was reviewed, and data on patient age, sex, radiographic findings, and the specific anatomic location of each lesion were recorded for analysis.
Results: The average age was 60 years with a male predominance (65%). Symptoms were reported in six cases, with pain being the most common. Three patients complained of loose teeth and a painful, raised ulceration. One patient reported numbness of the lower lip for the previous two years, along with a painful, radiolucent swelling and a firm tender mass. The mandible is more commonly involved than the maxilla, and the posterior oral cavity is affected more frequently than the anterior oral cavity. The radiological findings were predominantly characterized by multiple radiolucent lesions with an aggressive appearance, extending even to the facial bones and the skull base.
Conclusions: The radiological examination is often characteristic but sometimes atypical and misleading, hence the need for histological comparison. The findings highlight key patterns in presentation, with a focus on the unique challenges posed by diagnosing and treating this malignancy in maxillofacial regions. Larger series are needed to validate these observations.
Methods: All cases diagnosed as multiple myeloma were identified and retrieved from the records of the Dento-Maxillofacial Radiology Department, University Dental Clinic of Monastir, Tunisia. The clinical history of each case was reviewed, and data on patient age, sex, radiographic findings, and the specific anatomic location of each lesion were recorded for analysis.
Results: The average age was 60 years with a male predominance (65%). Symptoms were reported in six cases, with pain being the most common. Three patients complained of loose teeth and a painful, raised ulceration. One patient reported numbness of the lower lip for the previous two years, along with a painful, radiolucent swelling and a firm tender mass. The mandible is more commonly involved than the maxilla, and the posterior oral cavity is affected more frequently than the anterior oral cavity. The radiological findings were predominantly characterized by multiple radiolucent lesions with an aggressive appearance, extending even to the facial bones and the skull base.
Conclusions: The radiological examination is often characteristic but sometimes atypical and misleading, hence the need for histological comparison. The findings highlight key patterns in presentation, with a focus on the unique challenges posed by diagnosing and treating this malignancy in maxillofacial regions. Larger series are needed to validate these observations.