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[Sukie Note: I had earlier noted Dr. Bruce Williams' standing advice that
when hoofbeats are heard think of horses before you think of zebras, so
just note that when thinking of an expression of great rarity below and
nothing more.]
Dr. Jerry Murray sent this:
Start quote:
Multiple myeloma is an unicorn instead of a zebra. It is possible but
not common or likely. X-rays would be helpful in looking for osteolysis
to suspect mutiple myeloma.
Hugh spike in protein (16.7%) does not make sense either. Without
electrophoresis, you would not know the percentages of the globulins.
Juvenile lymphoma would make more sense, but you would need more info
to make that diagnosis!
Jerry
End quote.
As you see, to know what this is more testing is needed. The only way
to know which possible illness is involved is to test, and while there
are possibilities, without testing to find an actual answer they are
just that: only possibilities.
[Posted in FML issue 4799]