Myeloma: related conditions

• Several conditions have symptoms or cell changes that are similar in some way to myeloma.
• You might learn you have a different condition when having tests for myeloma, such as plasmacytoma, PCL, WM or amyloidosis.
• People with a condition called MGUS have a small increase in their risk of myeloma.
• If you have MGUS, you'll have regular tests to check for any changes that might be a sign of myeloma.

Plasmacytoma is like myeloma, but the abnormal plasma cells are only found in one area of the body. It is usually treated with radiotherapy, as this can treat only the affected part of the body.

Plasmacytoma can develop into “multiple” myeloma, which affects more than one part of the body.

Plasma cells are usually found in the bone marrow, the spongy tissue inside some of your bones, and not in the blood. This is also true in myeloma.

If blood tests show there are plasma cells in the blood, you may have plasma cell leukaemia (PCL). This may be:

• primary PCL, where there’s no previous sign of myeloma
• secondary PCL, where existing myeloma has progressed to PCL.

The treatments for PCL are generally the same as treatments for myeloma.

Myeloma UK has more information on plasma cell leukaemia.

People with WM have abnormal proteins called paraprotein in their blood, like people with myeloma. But WM is a type of lymphoma and is not closely related to myeloma. It has different symptoms and treatment.

We have more information about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of WM.

MGUS (pronounced em-gus) affects about 3 in every 100 people (3%) over the age of 50.

If you have MGUS, your plasma cells make a very small amount of paraprotein which can show up in blood tests.

MGUS generally causes no symptoms or damage to your body. It usually shows up by chance when you have a blood test for something else. It does not need treatment.

People with MGUS have a higher risk of developing myeloma, but the overall risk is still low. Around 1 in 100 people (1%) with MGUS go on to develop myeloma each year.

Most people with MGUS will need regular tests to check whether things are changing. These tests will make sure that if myeloma does develop, it is picked up early and can be treated when needed.

Even though MGUS doesn’t usually cause problems, you may worry about the small increase in your risk of myeloma. It may help to read our information about MGUS. You can also contact our Support Service if you have any questions about an MGUS diagnosis.

Amyloidosis is a group of conditions where the plasma cells make an abnormal protein called amyloid. Over time, amyloid can damage your kidneys, heart, spleen, gut or other organs.

Amyloidosis is not cancer, and it does not cause myeloma. But some cases of amyloidosis involve abnormal plasma cells, making it similar to myeloma. It is possible to have both conditions at the same time.

Treatment for amyloidosis is similar to treatment for myeloma.

Myeloma UK has more information on amyloidosis.

Multiple myeloma is the same as myeloma. It is just another name for the same disease.

Some people call it multiple myeloma because it affects bone marrow in more than one place and can affect other parts of the body.

This information has been accredited with the PIF TICK, the UK's only quality mark for trusted health information.

Last full review May 2026. Next full review due May 2029. We may make factual updates between reviews.

Thank you to Consultant Haematologist Dr Emma Searle and Clinical Nurse Specialist Amie Martin for checking the clinical accuracy of our myeloma information. Thanks also to Cecelia, Craig, Joan, Kaleigh, Kerry, Louise, Mart, Sandra, Scott for supporting this project and sharing their experience of living with myeloma.