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Case Report Describes Non-Secretory Multiple Myeloma With Eosinophilia in a 56-Year-Old Man

Case Report Describes Non-Secretory Multiple Myeloma With Eosinophilia in a 56-Year-Old Man
Photo by Navy Medicine / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider bone marrow biopsy for eosinophilia with suspected myeloma, noting evidence is limited to single case reports.

This publication is a case report involving a 56-year-old man. The scope focuses on the clinical presentation and diagnostic confirmation of non-secretory multiple myeloma in the context of marked eosinophilia. The authors document the specific pathological findings required to establish the diagnosis in this complex presentation.

The primary outcome involved confirming the diagnosis through bone marrow biopsy. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry identified clonal plasma cells accounting for 6.1% of nucleated cells. No specific intervention or comparator was utilized in this observational account. Follow-up duration and safety outcomes were not reported in the available data.

The authors acknowledge significant limitations regarding the generalizability of these findings. Specifically, there is limited literature on multiple myeloma-associated eosinophilia. This scarcity restricts the ability to draw broader conclusions about the association or management strategies for this rare presentation. The sample size of 1 limits statistical inference entirely.

Practice relevance centers on the diagnostic challenge posed by the coexistence of marked eosinophilia and non-secretory multiple myeloma. Clinicians should recognize this potential overlap when evaluating similar hematologic profiles. However, the single-case nature precludes definitive recommendations for routine care or screening protocols.

Given the observational nature and lack of comparative data, this report serves primarily as a descriptive reference. It underscores the necessity of thorough bone marrow evaluation when eosinophilia and myeloma features appear concurrently. Further research is required to clarify the pathophysiology and optimal management approaches for this specific clinical scenario.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review
EvidenceLevel 1
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
We report a rare case of non-secretory multiple myeloma (NSMM) presenting with marked eosinophilia and considerable diagnostic difficulty. A 56-year-old man was admitted with recurrent low back pain of more than 10 years’ duration that had rapidly worsened over the preceding 10 days, accompanied by diffuse pain and weight loss. Laboratory evaluation showed persistent eosinophilia, thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and increased inflammatory markers. Imaging revealed multifocal osteolytic lesions involving the skull, vertebrae, ribs, and pelvis. However, serum and urine immunofixation electrophoresis were negative, qualitative urine Bence-Jones protein testing was negative, and repeated serum free light chain testing showed a normal κ/λ ratio, making the diagnosis particularly challenging. Bone marrow aspirate showed marked eosinophilia, and flow cytometry identified clonal plasma cells accounting for 6.1% of nucleated cells. Bone marrow biopsy with immunohistochemistry confirmed a plasma-cell neoplasm, while myeloma fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed 1q21 gain/amplification together with chromosome 13-related abnormalities, including RB1 deletion and D13S319 abnormality. After exclusion of secondary and primary/clonal eosinophilic disorders, the patient was diagnosed with NSMM with eosinophilia. This case highlights the diagnostic challenge posed by the coexistence of marked eosinophilia and NSMM, which obscured the underlying plasma-cell malignancy despite repeatedly negative monoclonal protein studies. We also reviewed the limited literature on MM-associated eosinophilia to underscore the importance of integrating bone marrow findings, imaging, and cytogenetic evaluation in atypical cases.
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