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Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma
Diagnostic Criteria for Multiple Myeloma
The diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM) requires that a person with appropriate symptoms have at least one major and one minor criterion, or three minor criteria from the list below:
Major Criteria
- A biopsy result showing a plasma cell tumor (plasmacytoma)
- Over 30% of cells in the bone marrow sample are plasma cells
- The monoclonal immunoglobulin (M protein) level in the blood or urine exceeds a certain amount. This amount depends on the specific subtypes of the immunoglobulin as determined by lab tests.
Minor Criteria
- Between 10-30% of cells in the bone marrow sample are plasma cells
- A monoclonal immunoglobulin (M protein) level is detected but an insufficient amount is present to satisfy a major criterion
- Holes in bones due to tumor growth are found on x-ray or MRI scan
- The amount of normal antibody (not produced by the cancer cells) in the blood is abnormally low
