[Macroglossia and occult amyloidosis].

Amyloidosis is a rare disease characterized by the pathological deposit of extracellular proteins in organs or tissues. We report a 78 years old female with a history of euthyroid goiter and carpal syndrome, that presented complaining of weight loss and the sensation of a big and rough tongue. On physical examination, macroglossia and white nodules of 1.5 cm diameter in the mucosa of the mouth, were observed. The pathological examination of these nodules disclosed amyloid infiltration. A bone marrow biopsy showed plasma cell infiltration. The patient was treated with melphalan and prednisone, but she deteriorated progressively and died 14 months after the diagnosis.