Osteolytic lesions are a hallmark of multiple myeloma. At the time of diagnosis, most patients have bone lesions whose extent is directly related to the mass of the tumor. About 30 percent of patients also have hypercalcemia. Bone lesions and hypercalcemia are major causes of morbidity in these patients, causing asthenia, cachexia, bone pain, fractures, compression of the spinal cord, and renal insufficiency. Thus, the diagnosis and treatment of bone disease are essential to the care of patients with multiple myeloma.Unfortunately, the efficacy of treatment of the skeletal effects of multiple myeloma is very limited. Only patients who have . . .