Liver involvement by multiple myeloma presenting as hypervascular focal lesions in a patient with chronic hepatitis B infection

• Published in: BJR case reports Vol. 2; no. 3; p. 20150013
• Main Authors: Marcon, Magda, Cereser, Lorenzo, Girometti, Rossano, Cataldi, Palmina, Volpetti, Stefano, Bazzocchi, Massimo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The British Institute of Radiology 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Case Report
• ISSN: 2055-7159; 2055-7159
• DOI: 10.1259/bjrcr.20150013

Extramedullary myeloma refers to the infiltration of neoplastic monoclonal plasma cells in either organs or soft tissues. The disease is clinically and radiologically underestimated compared with the autopsy findings and is usually associated with a more aggressive clinical course and poorer outcome. A minority of patients with extramedullary myeloma show hepatic involvement, usually in the form of diffuse parenchymal infiltration. When focal infiltration is present, variable imaging findings have been described both on CT scan and MRI. We report the case of a 63-year-old male with hepatitis B virus-related liver disease and biopsy-proven multiple myeloma involving the liver, manifesting as hypervascular focal liver lesions on MRI. A brief review of the literature is also proposed.