New Research Review on Methods to Diagnose Plasma Cancers

A new research review from AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program found that there may not be sufficient evidence to determine whether the addition of the serum free light chain investigative procedure to traditional testing increases diagnostic accuracy for plasma cell dyscrasias or whether it helps predict disease progression. Although the procedure has been in use for a decade for diagnosis of plasma cancer, how best to incorporate it into practice remains unclear. The review, Serum-Free Light Chain Analysis for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prognosis of Plasma Cell Dyscrasias , determined that the evidence was insufficient to determine the extent to which adding the procedure to current tests would improve diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring of therapy, and treatment decisions.