USF-LVHN SELECT

Atypical Presentation and Diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma: A Case Report.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2024

Abstract

Chronic neck pain is a common, seemingly benign condition that typically does not warrant an urgent workup, in contrast to acute onset neck pain. Vertebral artery dissection (VAD) is a relatively rare presentation of acute onset neck pain and often presents in the context of blunt trauma. Due to the risk of subsequent clot formation and stroke, patients who present with symptoms suggestive of VAD must be promptly screened, most often first with computed tomography angiography (CTA) followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for further evaluation. We present a case of a 69-year-old male with a history of chronic neck pain who was seen in the emergency department due to acute, severe neck pain with initial CTA imaging that suggested left VAD. However, follow-up MRI of his cervical spine identified that what seemed to be a left VAD was instead multiple myeloma. This case demonstrates the utility of using multiple imaging modalities, including CT, CTA, MRI, and MRA, in diagnosing an atypical presentation of multiple myeloma and the consequences of physician implicit biases that are often involved when treating patients with chronic pain.

Volume

16

Issue

1

First Page

51870

Last Page

51870

ISSN

2168-8184

Disciplines

Medical Education | Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

38327916

Department(s)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine Residents, USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Faculty, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Students, Fellows and Residents

Document Type

Article

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS