When patients are treated symptomatically, can doctors in the corresponding departments detect multiple myeloma? Prof. Zhang Yi|: In the past, doctors in other departments did not know much about this disease, and the most they could do was treating patients with various symptoms, and they rarely realized that it was multiple myeloma. But in recent years, through exchanges and cooperation with orthopedics and nephrology, more and more doctors have become more aware of the disease, and now they will often seek consultation with us to see what tests the patient needs to undergo, and through preliminary examination and diagnosis, the patient will be able to receive the appropriate specialist treatment. What conditions should a patient consider for screening for multiple myeloma? Prof. Zhang Yixing|: For people over 50 years old, if they have unexplained bone pain that does not improve after symptomatic treatment, they should undergo bone imaging to see if there is multiple bone destruction; then they should check the immunoglobulin quantification in blood and urine, blood and immunofixation electrophoresis to see if there is M protein; if a positive result is found, they need to undergo bone marrow aspiration further. Through step-by-step investigation, we can make the correct diagnosis and avoid treating the headache as much as possible. Does the M-protein test always increase in multiple myeloma? Prof. Zhang Yixing|: Usually patients need to check the blood and urine immunoglobulins to see if there is M protein. However, there is another rare type of non-secretory multiple myeloma, in which no M protein can be detected in the blood and urine, but the skeletal imaging can show that there is indeed multiple bone destruction, and the malignant plasma cells of the bone marrow can be detected by bone marrow aspiration, which can still confirm the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. Therefore, the absence of M protein does not rule out the possibility of multiple myeloma. Does an elevated M-protein value indicate multiple myeloma? Prof. Zhang Yixing|: An elevated M protein alone does not indicate multiple myeloma. Other reactive plasma cell increases, such as chronic inflammation or other tumors, can also cause an increase in M protein. How high is the M protein suspected to be multiple myeloma? Prof. Zhang Yixing|: The M-protein test value varies for different types of multiple myeloma, and doctors will make a differential diagnosis based on the specific value.