Abstract

Nareen Tawfeeq Abbas, Anwar Sheikha , Ahmed Mjali

Background: Multiple myeloma is usually a non-curable elderly disease with diverse presentations involving different fields of medicine. Patients could present with hematological, nephrological, neurological, orthopedic, metabolic or any other general medical problem. Purpose: In this study we are trying to evaluate the extent, incidence, prevalence and pattern of presentation of this chronic disease in Sulaymaniyah province of Iraq. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate patients with plasma cells neoplasm managed at the Hiwa hematology/oncology teaching hospital, from December 2007 to September 2014. Results: The median age at presentation was 59.6 years (SD ±16.9) , with a male to female ratio of 1.5:1. Bone pain was the most common presenting complaint (67%) , followed by fatigue and pathological bone fractures respectively. Ig G was the most common paraprotein. Conclusions: Plasma cell neoplasm presenting age in our region is close to other parts of Iraq and neighboring countries but younger than western countries with male predominant