What does myeloma mean?
Myeloma is a medical term for a malignant tumor of plasma cells, the antibody-producing cells found in bone marrow and other tissues. The best-known form is multiple myeloma, in which abnormal plasma cells accumulate in the marrow and may spread to bones, blood, kidneys, and other organs. Although the word's history connects it with marrow, myeloma is not necessarily confined to the skeleton. Diagnosis commonly involves blood tests, imaging, and the examination of a bone-marrow sample, while treatment may include targeted medicines, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and stem-cell transplantation. The related term plasmacytoma refers to a localized plasma-cell tumor and helps distinguish a single lesion from disease involving multiple sites. Myeloma is also the medical sense of the combining form myelo-, which more broadly relates to marrow, spinal cord, or myeloid cells.
nounA malignant tumor arising from plasma cells, especially in the bone marrow. The term is most commonly associated with multiple myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells that can affect several bones and other tissues.
- A malignant tumor of plasma cells, especially one occurring in bone marrow and commonly affecting multiple sites in the body.
- A tumor of plasma cells in a single localized site, now more precisely described as a plasmacytoma.
"Her biopsy confirmed that the growth was a myeloma requiring specialist treatment."
"The scans showed lesions consistent with multiple myeloma."
"The pathology report identified the mass as a solitary myeloma, so no widespread disease was detected."
The plural is used when referring to separate cases or distinct tumors; in clinical discussion, multiple myeloma is usually treated as a single named disease and is not pluralized.
"The registry includes patients with newly diagnosed myelomas across several hospitals."
Myeloma takes its name from the marrow where plasma cells live, but the cancer can spread far beyond bone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does myeloma come from?
Myeloma combines the combining form myelo-, from Ancient Greek myelos, meaning “marrow,” with the suffix -oma, derived from Greek -ōma and used in the formation of names for tumors or swellings. The resulting term therefore refers to a tumor of marrow, particularly the abnormal plasma cells associated with myeloma. Words such as myelin, myelitis, and myelopathy share the same Greek element for marrow or spinal cord, while myeloid refers to the marrow-derived cell lineage.
Related word forms
How myeloma is actually used
This is a specialized medical term. In current clinical usage, myeloma usually refers to multiple myeloma, while a solitary plasma-cell tumor is generally called a plasmacytoma.
Easily confused with myeloma
A myoma is a benign tumor of smooth muscle, whereas a myeloma is a malignant tumor of plasma cells.