DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2017.v05i05.012

Pages: 333-336

Multiple myeloma, or Kahler's disease, is a neoplastic plasma cell disorder characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Although rare, it is the second most common hematologic malignancy. Multiple myeloma is associated with significant morbidity due to its end-organ destruction. Its clinical features are polymorphic and can be osteoarticular, neurological, hematological or visceral. However, cardiac involvement is uncommon and pericardial effusion secondary to multiple myeloma is very rare. Pericardial infiltration can be due to infection, amyloid deposits or plasmacytic infiltration and occurs at a late stage in the course of the disease. The majority of these patients are asymptomatic and pericardial tamponade is rare. The use of surgical drainage with intrapericardial injection of bleomycin has been reported in some cases, but the favorable response to systemic chemotherapy has been reported in only one case to date. Our case describes an unusual presentation of multiple myeloma, revealed by an isolated pericardial effusion.