Durie-Salmon staging system

The Durie-Salmon staging system was introduced in 1975 as the first staging tool to be established for myeloma. It was adopted and commonly used in clinical trials.

According to this system, there are three stages of myeloma (stages I, II and III) based on four main measurements that are roughly indicative of the amount and activity of the myeloma: paraprotein level, haemoglobin level, serum calcium level and number of bone lesions. Generally speaking, the higher the stage, the more advanced the myeloma and the less favourable the prognosis. Each stage is then further sub-divided depending on whether renal function is (A) normal or (B) abnormal.

Although the Durie-Salmon staging system still has a role to play under certain situations, it is rarely used in routine clinic practice today in favour of the revised international staging system (R-ISS).