Is a bone marrow biopsy necessary in a patient with a previous tissue diagnosis of plasmacytoma or smoldering multiple myeloma, who now meets criteria for active myeloma?
Assuming there is clear laboratory and/or imaging evidence of disease progression, and assuming FISH data is already available from a prior biopsy, does a repeat marrow ever change management prior to initiation of systemic therapy?
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Academic Institution
It depends. If it is a solitary plasmacytoma with no other lesions, a bone marrow biopsy would offer 2 things: (1) if there is bone marrow involvement, you know that systemic therapy is needed and it is not a solitary plasmacytoma and (2) if you can not get a myeloma FISH panel on the plasmacytoma b...
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