Association between diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether an association exists between multiple myeloma and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH).

DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Radiologic studies were performed over a 26-month period in a series of 97 consecutive patients with multiple myeloma (56 male and 41 female, aged 42-91 years).

RESULTS

Both myelomatous bone lesions and hyperostosis similar to DISH were found in these patients. The prevalence of DISH in association with multiple myeloma (21 male and 8 females patients) was higher (29.8%) than in our control group (973 patients, 449 male and 524 female) or in the general population (15-20%). The involved segments of the column were thoracic in 11 males and 7 females, cervical in 8 males and 2 females, and lumbar in 5 males and 4 females. Ossifying enthesopathy in the pelvis ("whiskering") was observed in 7 males and 1 female.

CONCLUSIONS

The pathogenesis of hyperostosis remains unknown. It is possible that the coexistence of DISH and multiple myeloma is merely an association. For this reason, it is important for the real prevalence of DISH in the general population to be defined.