A patient is admitted to the hospital with multiple myeloma (MM). Which diagnostic test should the healthcare professional assess as the priority?
A)Serum potassium level
B)Serum calcium level
C)Bone scan or limb x-rays
D)Bone marrow biopsy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Many clinical manifestations of MM are due to hypercalcemia. Since calcium can affect cardiac conduction, the priority diagnostic test is serum calcium levels. Bone destruction does occur in MM, but obtaining images of bones is not a higher priority than the calcium. The patient already has been diagnosed with MM, so a bone marrow biopsy may not be needed at this time. Potassium and other electrolytes will be assessed but not as the priority.

A Patient Is Admitted to the Hospital with Multiple Myeloma