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A member asked:

How does one differentiate between infection n malignancy in the bone marrow plasma cell percentage?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Craig MacArthur answered

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

Monoclonal or not: Malignant plasma cells are monoclonal in that they are copies of each other and produce the same antibody. This antibody can be identified in urine or blood tests in malignancy. Increased plasma cells due to infection are polyclonal (not copies of each other) and produce non-identical antibodies.

Dr Knecht agreed

Answered 2/8/2016

3.8k views

Thank

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