What Causes Lytic Lesions Other Than Myeloma - Multiple Myeloma Center - Everyday Health MenuNewslettersSearch Multiple Myeloma What Causes Lytic Lesions Other Than Myeloma By Dr. Sheeba K ThomasReviewed: October 13, 2008Fact-CheckedQ1. My doctors discovered numerous lytic lesions in my skull after a CT scan for concussion after a fall. Blood tests and whole body X-rays and a CT scan with barium and IV contrast dye have all come back normal. Is there anything else that can be the underlying cause of lytic lesions other than multiple myeloma? I was on high doses of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications for the past seven years. Can there be any connection between those meds and the lytic skull lesions? Please respond. I'm going nuts over this! I am not aware of any connection between lytic lesions and anti-depressants or anti-anxiety medications. If in addition to blood and urine studies, a bone marrow biopsy shows no evidence of multiple myeloma, the diagnosis of multiple myeloma would be highly unlikely, and other potential causes should be investigated. Lytic lesions — spots where bone tissue has been destroyed — can be seen in other cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer and kidney cancer. They can also be seen with infections of bone and even in some benign conditions. Taking a biopsy of one of the lytic lesions may help with your diagnosis. Q2. After a stem cell transplant, I had three and a half years of complete response. As there was no detectable disease during this time period, why did my body not repair the many lytic lesions I have? Yearly skeletal surveys showed no further degradation but no improvement was noted either. Pathological fractures have healed so something's still working in there. Lytic lesions are essentially the hollowed-out holes where your cancer formerly existed. They are created when the cancer cells stimulate normal cells called osteoclasts to break down bone tissue in a process called resorption. After your cancer is gone, it is the job of the osteoblasts to rebuild the bone. This process can be very slow, taking possibly decades. It is very likely that the lytic lesions in your bones may never disappear completely on your scans. Learn more in the Everyday Health Multiple Myeloma Center. NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Cancer Care Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The Latest in Multiple Myeloma What Are the Stages of Multiple Myeloma Doctors use staging to describe where cancerous cells are and whether they’ve spread to other parts of the body, in order to determine the best treatment...By Pamela KaufmanAugust 3, 2021 How Multiple Myeloma Is DiagnosedBlood tests, biopsies, imaging, and other tools can detect this blood cancer, which is sometimes overlooked.By Pamela KaufmanAugust 3, 2021 Understanding the Prognosis for Multiple MyelomaOnce you receive this diagnosis, you’ll want to know your prognosis — the predicted path of the disease.By Pamela KaufmanAugust 3, 2021 Multiple Myeloma ResourcesBy Nicol NataleJuly 29, 2021 What Are the Symptoms Associated With Multiple Myeloma Fatigue, bone pain, and frequent infections can all be due to this blood cancer, which often has no early, distinctive outward signs.By Pamela KaufmanJuly 29, 2021 What Is Multiple Myeloma Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment and PreventionBy Pamela KaufmanJuly 29, 2021 What Are the Treatment Options for Multiple Myeloma Drugs, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplants are used to treat this cancer, and trials of new experimental approaches are underway.By Pamela KaufmanJuly 29, 2021 Standing Up for Better Lung Cancer CareWith the support of his family, Walter Pearsall spoke up about his lung cancer treatment and was able to get the care he deserves.By Lambeth HochwaldOctober 6, 2022 New Guidelines Recommend Best Uses of Acupuncture Massage and Other Non-Drug Treatments for Cancer PainLeading organizations say complementary therapies such as reflexology and hypnosis may provide pain relief for some cancers.By Susan K. TreimanOctober 4, 2022 Immunotherapy Given Before Target Therapy Improves Advanced Melanoma Survival RatesNew findings are changing the way skin cancer is treated around the world.By Becky UphamOctober 3, 2022 MORE IN What Is Adenocarcinoma Types Causes and Treatment Skin Cancer Signs Symptoms Treatment and More Cancer Terms Explained