Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare B-lymphocytic subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Worldwide, WM has an estimated incidence of 3 million patients per year. Although the etiology of WM is unknown, reports have linked this chronic, slowly evolving malignant hematologic disease to genetic, environmental, and viral factors.
WM typically presents in older patients; the average age at diagnosis is 70 years. WM is more common in men than in women, and the disease disproportionately affects White, non-Hispanic patients.
WM has an indolent disease course, but disease progression can lead to serious sequelae from hyperviscosity syndrome (HVS); coagulation abnormalities; peripheral neuropathy; increased risk for infection; and organ damage from immunoglobulin M (IgM) deposits in the skin, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, spleen, and other organs.
The clinical presentation of weakness, anorexia, and weight loss associated with WM is nonspecific, which can prevent timely diagnosis and treatment in this vulnerable patient population.
Can you recognize the presenting exam findings, diagnostic features, and treatment options for WM? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
Medscape © 2023 WebMD, LLC
Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Emmanuel C. Besa. Fast Five Quiz: Can You Diagnose Waldenström Macroglobulinemia? - Medscape - Jun 13, 2023.
Comments