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The Daily Insight

Can multiple myeloma spread to kidneys?

Author

Owen Barnes

Updated on February 18, 2026

Can multiple myeloma spread to kidneys?

The tubules of the kidney can also be damaged simply due to the toxic effects of these filtered proteins. This can lead to abnormal kidney function even in the absence of cast formation. However, myeloma kidney is by far the most common manifestation of kidney disease in patients with multiple myeloma.

What is extraosseous myeloma?

Extraosseous myeloma refers to any manifestation of multiple myeloma where there is plasma cell proliferation outside the skeleton.

Can multiple myeloma cause renal failure?

Renal failure is a common feature of multiple myeloma (MM) that may provide a clue to diagnosis and cause a major management problem. Depending on the definition of renal failure, this complication occurs in 20–40% of newly diagnosed patients with MM.

What is isoechoic kidney?

Normal renal parenchyma is similar (isoechoic) or slightly darker (hypoechoic) compared with liver and includes the cortex and medulla. The thickness of the renal cortex is measured from the outer border of the medullary pyramids (yellow line) or from the arcuate arteries to the renal capsule.

What does multiple myeloma do to kidneys?

In addition to blockages, these casts cause an inflammatory reaction in the tissue of the kidney around them. When kidney failure occurs due to these blockages, we call this cast nephropathy or myeloma kidney. The tubules of the kidney can also be damaged simply due to the toxic effects of these filtered proteins.

What happens when multiple myeloma affects the kidneys?

They obstruct the passages, preventing fluid from passing through the kidneys. This causes inflammation in the kidney tissue, leading to kidney damage, according to Dr. Hillengass. The resulting damage leads to a condition called cast nephropathy, or “myeloma kidney,” which occurs in 20% of multiple myeloma patients.

What is Extraosseous?

Listen to pronunciation. (EK-struh-AH-see-us) Located or occurring outside of the bone. Also called extraskeletal.

Is an echogenic kidney bad?

Echogenic kidneys is considered a “nonspecific finding” because it doesn’t indicate a specific condition or diagnosis, but rather the possibility of a kidney abnormality. The most frequent causes of fetal echogenic kidneys include: Polycystic kidney disease (autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive)

Is echogenic kidneys normal?

Echogenic kidneys can be a normal variant but are also seen in association with renal dysplasia, chromosomal abnormality, adult and fetal polycystic disease, Pearlman syndrome, Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome, and CMV infection. The incidence of echogenic kidneys has been estimated at 1.6 cases per 1000 sonograms.

What are the symptoms of end stage multiple myeloma?

Symptoms of Late-Stage Multiple Myeloma

  • Being sick to your stomach.
  • Bone pain in your back or ribs.
  • Bruising or bleeding easily.
  • Feeling very tired.
  • Fevers.
  • Frequent infections that are hard to treat.
  • Losing a lot of weight.
  • Not feeling like eating.

What does increased renal echogenicity mean?

Increased renal echogencity is a nonspecific finding but can represent a number of underlying conditions. These include: normal variation. renal amyloidosis. chronic kidney disease: increased cortical echogenicity.

Is renal echogenicity similar to liver and spleen?

Renal echogenicity decreases compared to liver and spleen after 17 weeks 12. Normal kidney appearance in adult 11: cortex is less echogenic than the liver. medullary pyramids are slightly less echogenic than the cortex. cortex thickness equals/is more than 6 mm 14.

What is the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma (MM)?

Multiple myeloma is the most common primary malignant bone neoplasm in adults. It arises from red marrow due to monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells and manifests in a wide range of radiographic abnormalities. Multiple myeloma remains incurable.

Is plain radiograph necessary for multiple myeloma diagnosis?

Plain radiograph. A skeletal survey is essential not only for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma but also in pre-empting potential complications (e.g. pathological fracture) and assessing response to therapy. ~40% bone destruction is required for lesion detection, thus giving the skeletal survey a high false-negative rate of ~50%…