Dysphagia as a Clinical Manifestation of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance: A Case Report
10.34160/jkds.2019.9.2.007
- Author:
Hyunjung KOO
1
;
Geun Young PARK
;
Yeonjae HAN
;
Sangah JEONG
;
Sun IM
Author Information
1. Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea. lafoliamd@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Deglutition disorders;
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance;
Paraproteinemia
- MeSH:
Aged;
Ataxia;
Deglutition;
Deglutition Disorders;
Diagnosis;
Electromyography;
Hand;
Humans;
Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance;
Multiple Myeloma;
Muscle Weakness;
Muscles;
Paraproteinemias;
Pneumonia, Aspiration;
Polyneuropathies;
Prognosis;
Sensation;
Vasculitis
- From:
Journal of the Korean Dysphagia Society
2019;9(2):93-98
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Swallowing can be affected by a variety of systemic diseases. The etiology of dysphagia in the geriatric population is usually overlooked due mainly to a presumed diagnosis of presbyphagia or difficulty in revealing the direct cause. On the other hand, dysphagia can be a meaningful clinical sign of premalignant systemic disease. A 78-year-old man, without any prior medical or family history, was admitted with the chief complaint of dysphagia with recent aspiration pneumonia. Instrumental swallowing tests revealed a severe degree of dysphagia due to decreased laryngopharyngeal sensation and weakness of the pharyngeal constrictor muscles. Extensive workup, including electromyography and laboratory tests, revealed severe sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy related to monoclonal gammopathy. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a premalignant precursor of multiple myeloma, which is characterized by the proliferation of monoclonal proteins. These conditions are often associated with peripheral polyneuropathy, ataxia, and sometimes even muscle weakness. Although dysphagia can occur in other systemic disorders, such as vasculitis or paraneoplastic syndrome-related malignancies, there are few reports of dysphagia related to MGUS. The patient was followed up for three years. The MGUS showed no further progression, but the patient showed no improvement, indicating a protracted clinical course and poor prognosis when dysphagia is related to MGUS.
