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Multiple Myeloma Jaws — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateHuman DiseaseMultiple Myeloma JawsMFDS Part 1

Which radiographic appearance is classically associated with involvement of the jaws by multiple myeloma on conventional dental imaging?

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Correct answer: AMultiple well-defined punched-out radiolucencies

The correct answer is A. Multiple myeloma causes plasma-cell infiltration and osteoclastic bone destruction, classically producing multiple discrete, punched-out radiolucencies in the skull and jaws. Jaw disease may also cause pain, swelling, paraesthesia, tooth mobility or pathological fracture. Multilocular or soap-bubble destruction can occur, but it is not the classic conventional radiographic association and therefore made the original wording non-unique. A ground-glass pattern is associated particularly with fibrous dysplasia, while cotton-wool sclerosis suggests Paget disease. Dense masses surrounded by radiolucent rims are more typical of a mature cemento-osseous dysplasia pattern.

Reference: de Almeida TMX et al. Can dentists detect multiple myeloma through oral manifestations? Hematology, Transfusion and Cell Therapy. 2018;40(1):43-49. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29519372/