Surgery is sometimes used to remove single plasmacytomas, but it’s rarely used to treat multiple myeloma. When spinal cord compression causes paralysis, severe muscle weakness, or numbness, emergency surgery may be needed. Surgery to attach metal rods or plates can help support weakened bones and may be needed to prevent or treat fractures.
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
Munshi NC, Anderson KC. Ch. 112 Plasma cell neoplasms. In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015.
Rajkumar SV, Dispenzieri A. Multiple myeloma and related disorders. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 5th edition. Philadelphia, PA. Elsevier: 2014:1991-2017.
Last Revised: February 28, 2018
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.