Multiple myeloma and plasmacytomas

Radiation therapy is the primary modality of treatment in the management of solitary plasmacytomas. The dose of radiation recommended is 5500 to 6000 cGy in 6 to 8 weeks. Disseminated myeloma is primarily treated with chemotherapy, which frequently includes melphalan and prednisone. Other drugs that are active in this disease are cyclophophamide, vincristine, procarbazine, BCNU, and doxorubicin. Adjuvant radiation therapy is indicated for painful bone lesions, for prevention and treatment of pathologic features of long bones, for spinal cord compression, and to relieve pressure from soft tissue masses. Myeloma is a relatively radiosensitive tumor requiring only 1000 to 2000 cGy in 1 to 2 weeks to relieve most painful lesions