[Spinal cord compression in malignant plasmacytic diseases. Apropos of 6 cases].

Myeloma may be complicated or revealed by spinal cord compression. Out of 105 cases of myeloma admitted to this Department, 6 cases of spinal cord compression were observed, with a favourable outcome after treatment by laminectomy combined with radiotherapy. In 5 cases out of 6, spinal cord compression was either the presenting sign or occurred within the first months after diagnosis. Compression occurred in the thoracic cord in 5 cases, and in the lumbar cord in 1 case. The interval between the first symptom and diagnosis varied greatly (from a few hours to 1 year), as did the degree of paraplegia, which ranged from paraparesis to flaccid paraplegia. A favourable outcome occurs in most other reported cases, in contrast with spinal cord compression from metastases. Treatment (laminectomy-radiotherapy or both) remains controversial.