Aims: To describe and evaluate two cases of gastrointestinal involvement by multiple myeloma.
Methods and results: Clinical details were obtained from patients records and routine histopathological sections were correlated with haematological and immunohistochemical investigations. As shown in the accompanying illustrations, myeloma manifests as large, atypical, non-cohesive cells which may mimic high-grade lymphoma.
Conclusions: Extraskeletal spread of multiple myeloma occurs more frequently than is currently recognized, but clinical involvement of gut is rarely reported. Gut involvement may occur soon after initial diagnosis of myeloma and may be of serious clinical consequence. Histologically, it may mimic high-grade lymphoma. Failure to recognize myelomatous involvement of gut may result in inappropriate surgery or oncological therapy.