Light chain myeloma with oro-pharyngeal amyloidosis presenting as bulbar paralysis

A 53-year old woman developed slowly progressive dysarthria, mild enlargement of the tongue and dysphagia since 1 year ago. All neurological differential diagnoses that could have explained the bulbar symptoms were excluded. The swallowing sequence was pathologic and immunoglobulins were markedly reduced. A bone marrow biopsy revealed light chain myeloma grade III. Amyloid deposits were found in the tongue but not in the kidneys. Oro-pharyngeal amyloidosis was held responsible for the described complaints. It is concluded that multiple myeloma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of bulbar paralysis and that biopsy of specific lesions is necessary to confirm local amyloidosis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.