An overview of multiple myeloma in dogs and cats

Plasma cell neoplasms originate from terminally differentiated B lymphocytes that have undergone malignant transformation. These neoplasms incorporate a wide range of clinical syndromes including multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia, solitary osseous plasmacytoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma. In this article, we focus on multiple myeloma, which refers to diffuse disease and, clinically, is the most important plasma cell neoplasm. See the next article in this issue for a discussion of plasmacytomas, which involve soft tissue or bone.