Solitary plasmacytoma of the sphenoid sinus involving the pituitary fossa: a case report and review of the literature

Sphenoid plasmacytoma as initial presentation of multiple myeloma-case report

Plasmacytoma is a rare plasma cell neoplasm. Whether solitary or associated with multiple myeloma (MM), it rarely involves the skull base, particularly the sphenoid bone. We present a unique case of sphenoid bone plasmacytoma secondary to MM, highlighting diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 56-year-old female presented with headaches, vomiting, epistaxis, and cranial nerve deficits. Cerebral imaging revealed a 65-mm tumor infiltrating the sphenoid bone and adjacent structures. Subtotal resection was performed using an endoscopic nasal approach. Histopathology revealed plasmacytoma, and diagnostic workup confirmed MM. By the end of biological exploration, relapse of the sphenoid plasmacytoma was observed, and the patient was successfully treated with radiotherapy, immunochemotherapy, and autologous stem cell transplantation. After 18-month follow-up, sustained complete remission was confirmed. Although rare, the diagnosis of plasmacytoma should be considered in cases of skull base tumors. This localization is highly predictive of MM, warranting comprehensive investigations to initiate prompt and adequate management.

Solitary plasmacytoma of the skull base: A case report and literature review

Plasmacytoma of the skull base is a rare entity. We present a case of sphenoid plasmacytoma in a 51-year-old woman who had nasal obstruction, intermittent epistaxis, headaches, decreasing visual acuity, and diplopia. Computed Tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large heterogeneous, expansile lesion measuring 75 mm × 54 mm, centered on the sphenoidal bone and the clivus. Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of solitary plasmacytoma after ruling out systemic spread by the initial assessment. The patient was successfully managed by external beam radiotherapy and a complete response was obtained after 12 months of follow-up.

Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Modality of Parasellar Plasmacytoma: Clinical Series and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Parasellar plasmacytomas are rare tumors arising from the sellar region that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions involving the sella and clivus. Before surgical pathologic examination, parasellar plasmacytomas have often been misdiagnosed as invasive pituitary adenomas or chordomas owing to the similarity of the clinical presentation and imaging findings.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data from 5 patients with parasellar plasmacytoma who underwent endonasal endoscopic tumor resection in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2008 to January 2018. Their clinical symptoms, radiological features, and treatment modalities and outcomes were summarized.

RESULTS

We enrolled a total of 5 patients (3 men and 2 women; median age at diagnosis, 54 years; range, 47-61) with parasellar plasmacytoma in the present clinical series. The presenting symptoms mainly included diplopia, headache, and blurred vision. All the patients had undergone endonasal endoscopic surgery combined with adjuvant therapy. After postoperative radiotherapy, complete remission was achieved within a median follow-up period of 41 months (range, 15-120).

CONCLUSIONS

The differential diagnosis of parasellar plasmacytoma with pituitary adenoma and chordoma should include a thorough endocrine workup, neurological examination, and radiological assessment. Our findings support radiotherapy as the main treatment of choice for parasellar plasmacytoma, given its typical feature of relatively high radiosensitivity. Tumor resection through the endonasal endoscopic approach combined with adjuvant radiotherapy could be the optimal initial treatment strategy in long-term control of the lesion and alleviation of neurological symptoms.

Intracranial Invasion of an Extramedullary Plasmacytoma in the Paranasal Sinus: A Case Report with a Reference to Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma arising from the paranasal sinus with intracranial invasion at recurrence is reported. In this case, magnetic resonance imaging was first employed not only to delineate tumor extension into the cranial space, but also to evaluate the therapeutic response. Histological confirmation was made after a biopsy was performed. Despite widespread tumor involvement of orbit in the cavernous sinus and anterior skull base, radiotherapy and subsequent maintenance chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide induced a long-term, 42-month partial remission. The pertinent clinical characteristics are reviewed in the literature and the therapeutic problems and prognostic factors are discussed with an introduction of advantage of magnetic resonance imaging.

Sellar and clival plasmacytomas: case series of 5 patients with systematic review of 65 published cases

PURPOSE

Parasellar plasmacytomas are rare tumors localized to the sellar region arising from plasma cells. Knowledge of clinical, imaging, surgical, and pathological characteristics is limited to single case reports.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of five primary cases was conducted, followed by systematic review of English language articles using PubMed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Five primary case patients include four men and one woman, ages 60-77, followed up to 3 years. A systematic review identified 65 additional patients, of whom 65% presented with cranial nerve palsies and 15% with hypopituitarism. Sixteen percent had history of known multiple myeloma (MM) while 37% were diagnosed concurrently with MM on presentation of parasellar plasmacytoma. Imaging showed median tumor size of 38 mm (range, 4-70 mm), with MRI intensity similar to that of other sellar masses. Surgical biopsy with immunohistochemical studies confirmed plasmacytoma diagnosis. Eighty-one percent underwent parasellar radiotherapy, and chemotherapy initiated in 59% of the 69 patients with MM. Overall survival rate was 74% at follow-up (median 12 months), with 18% having parasellar recurrences and 38% progressing to systemic MM after presentation of a solitary plasmacytoma (median 3 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Parasellar plasmacytomas are rare tumors that should be considered in the differential diagnosis for lesions involving the sella and arising from the clivus, especially when cranial nerve paresis is apparent, even in the absence of known MM. Although recurrence rates for parasellar plasmacytoma is low, patients should be monitored for progression to MM. Treatment depends on the presence of systemic disease at diagnosis.

Sellar solitary plasmacytoma progressing to multiple myeloma: a case report and literature review

Sellar plasmacytoma is a rare cause of sellar lesions. Preoperative diagnosis remains a challenge. We present a 34-year-old Chinese woman with a 25-day history of headache and diplopia. A physical examination revealed incomplete left abducens nerve palsy. The initial diagnosis was invasive pituitary adenoma. The patient's condition deteriorated suddenly the day before the arranged operating date, with the hemoglobin level declining from 113 to 70 g/L. The operation was cancelled and further studies confirmed the diagnosis of sellar solitary plasmacytoma that progressed to multiple myeloma. After undergoing radiotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, complete remission was achieved on 4 years follow-up. We reviewed the pertinent literature and reached the following conclusions: sellar plasmacytomas with development of multiple myeloma on follow-up more likely happened in men than in women; and if the sellar plasmacytoma does not compress the cranial nerve, transsphenoidal resection should be cautious because the systemic treatment with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation may be more effective with little invasion.

Solitary clival plasmocytomas: Misleading clinical and radiological features of a rare pathology with a specific biological behaviour

BACKGROUND

Tumours of the clivus are exceptionally rare, representing a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge. Clival solitary plasmocytomas have been described only as single case reports or included in small clinical series with other intracranial location.

METHODS

Authors report clinical, radiological, and survival data of four patients, who underwent surgery for clival plasmocytomas between 1989 and 2012 in a single centre. Current knowledge about solitary plasmocytomas of the clivus are reviewed.

RESULTS

Follow-up time was 54 months (range: 9-165). Mean age of patient was 57 years, no gender predilection was observed. Main symptoms were headache (75 %) and double vision (75 %), due to third or sixth cranial nerve palsy. Mean time to diagnosis was 8.2 months. All patients underwent surgery as primary treatment, through either a transsphenoidal (75 %) or a transmaxillary approach (25 %). In all cases adjuvant conventional radiotherapy was performed with a median delivered dose of 45 Gy. Only one case of progression into multiple myeloma was observed 13 months after surgery, and the patient died 9 months later. No other recurrences or progression were observed. Mean overall survival and progression free survival time were, respectively, 54 and 51.7 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Although extremely rare, clival plasmocytomas have to be considered in the differential diagnosis of a solitary clival lesion. Biological and clinical features of these tumours strongly differ from those of similar lesions in other part of the body. Early diagnosis, extensive tumour removal, opportune indication of adjuvant treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the keys to manage these cases.

Sellar plasmacytomas: a concise review

The diagnosis of a sellar plasmacytoma is often missed and is mistaken for a non functioning pituitary adenoma. We reviewed the literature on reported cases of sellar plasmacytoma in order to identify its clinical presentation, laboratory, radiological and pathological characteristics. We describe the management of these cases after the correct diagnosis was made and provide insight to preoperative diagnosis of this entity. Preoperative diagnosis may help avoid unnecessary surgical resection of an otherwise radiosensitive tumor. We also report and describe in detail a new case of sellar plasmacytoma that we have recently evaluated.

Intrasellar plasmacytoma: an illustrative case and literature review

Intrasellar plasmacytoma is a rare pituitary pathology. Pre-operative diagnosis remains a challenge as a sellar plasmacytoma mimics a pituitary adenoma in clinical and radiological features. We report a 45-year-old woman, known to have multiple myeloma, presenting to our clinic with a pituitary mass eventually diagnosed as a plasmacytoma. We review 26 similar cases reported in the literature and divide them into three categories, based on their presentation and follow-up data. Pitfalls in diagnosis and reported treatment modalities are also discussed. We conclude that presentation with cranial nerve palsies and an aggressive sellar mass on imaging, and without gross anterior hypophyseal hormonal imbalance, are features of a pituitary plasmacytoma. The presentation and follow-up characteristics may help to determine the prognosis of such patients.

Solitary intramedullary plasmacytoma of the skull base mimicking aggressive meningioma

The authors present an unusual case of solitary intramedullary plasmacytoma. Awareness of this entity can facilitate appropriate surgical planning, which may include a limited biopsy prior to considering more extensive skull base surgery.

An unusual collision tumor comprising a prolactinoma and a plasmocytoma originating from the sellar region

A 58-year-old previously healthy man presented with diplopia of rapid onset over a few days. Examination demonstrated bilateral sixth and right fourth cranial nerve palsy. MR imaging showed a large sellar mass with significant destruction of the pituitary fossa. Laboratory tests revealed very high serum prolactin (2,483 ng/dl, reference range 3-13 ng/dl). Dopamine agonist therapy was initiated with significant decline in PRL levels; however, nausea, fatigue, and anorexia developed. Within a few weeks the patient developed renal failure and hypercalcemia. Urine protein electrophoresis revealed large free monoclonal kappa peaks while extensive plasmocytosis was evident in bone marrow aspirates. On bone scan numerous lytic lesions were present. A transsphenoidal excisional biopsy was performed which demonstrated two distinct populations of cells, corresponding to a plasma cell tumor and a lactotroph adenoma. Treatment for multiple myeloma was initiated along with radiotherapy for the sellar tumor. Only a few cases of solitary plasmocytomas of the pituitary region have been reported. Few cases of prolactinomas coexisting with other sellar tumors has been described. We discuss in this report possible pathogenic and functional connections between these two tumors. We suggest that in the presence of extensive cranial nerve involvement, atypical imaging findings for a pituitary adenoma and severe hyperprolactinemia, the possibility of a collision tumor should lead the physician to consider excisional tumor biopsy or surgery in addition to dopamine agonist therapy.

Intrasellar plasmacytoma: an unusual presentation of multiple myeloma

INTRODUCTION

Plasmacytomas are unusual causes of a sellar mass. Occasionally, they can be misdiagnosed as a nonfunctioning adenoma because of radiological and clinical similarities.

LITERATURE REVIEW

We reviewed the pertinent literature and discuss here in the light of an illustrative case of our own.

DISCUSSION

A 70-year-old woman presented with a recurrent hypophysial mass. Initial diagnosis of a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma was later overruled by a repeat biopsy, which showed a plasmacytoma. The tumor stained positively for CD138 and kappa light chain. Further studies confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. The patient was successfully treated with radiotherapy followed by systemic chemotherapy. Because they have different therapeutic implications, extramedullary plasmacytomas involving pituitary gland should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a nonfunctioning pituitary mass.

Radiotherapy for extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck

PURPOSE

To define the effectiveness of radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck (EMPHN).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We searched the Mayo Clinic Rochester Department of Radiation Oncology electronic Tumor Registry and identified 18 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of solitary EMPHN. Sixteen patients were treated with radiotherapy at initial diagnosis and 2 received salvage radiotherapy for local failure after surgery. Median dose administered was 50.4 Gy. Median follow-up was 6.8 years.

RESULTS

One patient (6%) developed a marginal recurrence 12 months after treatment. Six patients (33%) developed multiple myeloma (2 patients) or plasmacytomas at distant sites (4 patients) at a median of 3.1 years after diagnosis (range, 0.02 to 9.6 years). Median and 5- and 10-year overall survival rates from the date of diagnosis are 12.5 years, 88%, and 55%, respectively. Two patients (11%) developed a radiation-induced malignancy at 6.5 and 6.9 years after treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiotherapy provides excellent local and regional tumor control and survival in patients with EMPHN. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of presumed radiation-induced malignancy in this patient population.

Intrasellar paraganglioma: a case report and review of the literature

Intrasellar paragangliomas are very rare lesions with only six previous cases described in the literature. We present a further case of intrasellar paraganglioma. The patient was a 52 yr-old man who developed two transient ischemic attacks. A CT scan showed an intra- and supra-sellar expanding lesion, which was regarded as a possible non-functioning pituitary macro-adenoma. Removal of the lesion was accomplished by transsphenoidal surgery. Histological examination was diagnostic of a paraganglioma. We review the literature and discuss pathological features and possible pathogenesis of sellar and parasellar paragangliomas, underlining the necessity to consider paraganglioma in the differential diagnosis of sellar lesions.

Intrasellar plasmacytoma presenting as a non-functional invasive pituitary macro-adenoma: case report & literature review

We report an uncommon case of an intrasellar plasmacytoma presenting as a non-functional invasive pituitary macro-adenoma as the first manifestation of multiple myeloma. A 57 year old woman was referred to our department with a presumed diagnosis of a non-functioning pituitary macro-adenoma. She reported a 3 month history of headaches and a 2 week history of sudden onset of right facial numbness. Preoperative endocrine evaluation was remarkable only for a modestly elevated serum prolactin. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed 3.6 x 5 x 4 cm enhancing homogeneous intrasellar mass with extension into the sphenoid and cavernous sinuses bilaterally; the optic chiasm was not displaced. She underwent transphenoidal surgery of the sellar lesion. The surgical specimen was heavily infiltrated with abnormal plasma cells, which stained almost exclusively for Kappa light chain immunoglobulins. An extensive investigation was undertaken to look for occult myelomatous disease. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made 1 month later based on a combination of clinical, pathological and radiologic features. She underwent radiation therapy directed towards the residual sellar tumor, followed by chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Review of the world literature revealed only 22 previous reports of patients in whom a solitary plasmacytoma or multiple myeloma first presented as a sellar mass; in all cases mimicking clinically and radiologically a non-functioning invasive pituitary adenoma however with additional cranial nerve involvement. Intrasellar plasma cell tumors are rare tumors which may mimic non-functioning invasive pituitary tumors. The diagnosis should be suspected in patients with well preserved anterior pituitary function and cranial nerve neuropathies in the presence of significant sellar destruction.

Plasmacytoma: an unusual cause of a pituitary mass lesion. A case report and a review of the literature

A sixty six year old female presented with headache and decreased hearing. Clinical examination confirmed the presence of impaired hearing on the left side. Visual fields were full to confrontation and corrected visual acuity was normal. CT scan of brain revealed a pituitary mass. Preoperative anterior pituitary function was normal. Transsphenoidal decompression was performed, and histology was that of a plasmacytoma. Post operative pituitary function was normal. The patient had no symptoms or signs of multiple myeloma and subsequent investigations revealed no evidence of the disease. One year after diagnosis a course of radiotherapy was administered for local tumour recurrence. During seven years of follow-up, no evidence of multiple myeloma has emerged. Only thirteen similar cases have been described. Four of these had evidence of multiple myeloma at presentation and six progressed to it during follow-up. In twelve patients cranial nerve deficits were recorded. In any cases where it was documented, preoperative anterior pituitary function was normal. In a number of cases histology was reported initially as being that of a non-functioning adenoma, the true diagnosis being discovered, either by electron microscopy findings or after the development of multiple myeloma. Plasma cell tumours of the pituitary area are rare and can present with symptoms and signs indistinguishable from non-functioning adenoma. Atypical symptoms such as cranial nerve involvement or unexpected preservation of anterior pituitary function should arouse suspicion.

A relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma presenting as panhypopituitarism successfully treated by chemotherapy

We report a case of relapsed large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) affecting the anterior pituitary. The NHL relapsed after three years in complete remission. The patient was a 72-year-old woman who presented fever, weakness, hyponatremia, and hypotension. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and gonadotropins were very low and magnetic resonance imaging showed infiltration of the pituitary gland and stalk. After controlling the hormonal deficiencies with substitution using hydroxycortisone and levothyroxin, the patient was treated with combination chemotherapy using cyclophosphamide, vincristine, mitoxantrone, etoposide, and bleomycin (VNCOP-B regimen), achieving a complete regression of the pituitary mass and partial recovery of the endocrine function. Lymphoproliferative disorders affecting the anterior pituitary are exceedingly rare, with only six cases in immunocompetent adults reported in the literature. To our knowledge this is the first report of a relapsed NHL presenting by hypopituitarism.

Cavernous hemangioma of the sphenoid sinus: case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Few cases of paranasal sinus cavernous hemangiomas have been reported in the literature. We report the first case of cavernous hemangioma of the sphenoid sinus and discuss therapeutic considerations and differential diagnosis.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A case of sphenoid sinus tumor in a 67-year-old woman is reported. The initial symptoms were a horizontal diplopia, a left facial dysesthesia, and a recent history of unusual headache. Physical examination revealed a left VIth nerve paresis. A CT scan was performed showing a hypodense homogeneous mass in the sphenoid sinus that was not enhanced after administration of contrast medium. MR study demonstrated on T1-weighted image an isointense nonenhancing homogeneous mass filling the sphenoid sinus. On T2-weighted images the tumor mass displayed a mild hyperintense signal. The patient was operated on via a transsphenoidal approach with total removal of the tumor. Pathological findings were consistent with a nonosseous cavernous hemangioma. MR imaging performed 5 years later was still normal.

CONCLUSION

The clinicoradiological and pathological features of this entity are described, and the literature reviewed.

Factors in the pathogenesis of tumors of the sphenoid and maxillary sinuses: a comparative study

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To explain the processes that lead to the development of tumors in the maxillary and sphenoid sinuses.

STUDY DESIGN

A 32-year review of the world's literature on neoplasms of these two sinuses and a randomized case-controlled study comparing the normal mucosal architecture of the maxillary to the sphenoid sinus.

METHODS

Analysis of a 32-year world literature review reporting series of cases of maxillary and sphenoid sinus tumors. Tumors were classified by histological type and separated into subgroups if an individual incidence rate was reported. Histomorphometry of normal maxillary and sphenoid sinus mucosa was performed in 14 randomly selected patients (10 sphenoid and 4 maxillary specimens). Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin, embedded in paraffin, and stained with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and hematoxylin. Histomorphometric analysis was performed with a Zeiss Axioscope light microscope (Carl Zeiss Inc., Thornwood, NY) mounted with a Hamamatsu (Hamamatsu Photonics, Tokyo, Japan) color-chilled 3 charge coupled device digital camera. The images were captured on a 17-inch Sony (Sony Corp., Tokyo, Japan) multiscan monitor and analyzed with a Samba 4000 Image Analysis Program (Samba Corp., Los Angeles, CA). Five random areas were selected from strips of epithelium removed from each sinus, and goblet and basal cell measurements were made at magnifications x 100 and x 400.

RESULTS

The literature review revealed that the number and variety of tumors in the maxillary sinus are much greater than those in the sphenoid. The incidence of metastatic lesions to each sinus is approximately equal. No recognized pattern of spread from any particular organ system could be determined. On histomorphometric study there were no statistically significant differences between the sinuses in the concentration of goblet cells, basal cells, or seromucinous glands.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors involved in the pathogenesis of tumors of the maxillary and sphenoid sinuses include differences in nasal physiology, embryology, morphology, and topography. There are no significant histological differences in the epithelium and submucous glands between the two sinuses to explain the dissimilar formation of neoplasms.

An Unusual Sellar Mass—Solitary Plasmacytoma

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of solitary intrasellar plasmacytoma in a patient with a preoperative diagnosis of a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma.

METHODS

A case of a solitary intrasellar plasmacytoma is presented, in which the clinical and laboratory findings are detailed and the response to treatment is discussed. Pertinent reports from the literature are reviewed.

RESULTS

A 53-year-old woman came to the neurology clinic with complaints of frontal headaches and intermittent blurry vision. Physical examination showed no remarkable findings. Computed tomography revealed an enhancing sellar and suprasellar mass, with extension into the sphenoid and cavernous sinuses. The patient had a preoperative diagnosis of a clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma and underwent transsphenoidal resection. The biopsy specimen was heavily infiltrated with abnormal plasma cells, which stained exclusively for lambda light chain immunoglobulins. An extensive investigation failed to show evidence of multiple myeloma. In view of these findings, the diagnosis of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma was made. Postoperatively, the patient received radiotherapy to the pituitary and has remained free of disease for 7 years. Review of the world literature disclosed only 17 previous reports of patients in whom a solitary plasmacytoma or multiple myeloma first appeared as a sellar mass. In each case, the plasmacytoma mimicked a clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma.

CONCLUSION

Parasellar plasmacytomas are often mistaken for a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. The diagnosis is difficult to make in the absence of overt systemic myeloma. Nevertheless, normal pituitary function associated with severe destruction of the pituitary fossa, cranial neuropathies, and diabetes insipidus are clues that the primary lesion is outside the pituitary gland itself. The current patient is unique in terms of prolonged survival in the absence of systemic myeloma. Perhaps those patients with progression of disease did not have extramedullary tumors because such lesions rarely progress to overt myelomatous disease.

Head and neck manifestations of plasma cell neoplasms

Multiple myeloma, solitary plasmacytoma of bone, and extramedullary plasmacytoma are plasma cell neoplasms. They represent distinct manifestations of a disease continuum, whereby the clinical findings are critical to diagnosis. Plasma cell neoplasms are histologically similar, and distinguishing one from the other has significant implications for treatment and survival. Plasma cell neoplasms are relatively unusual malignancies of the head and neck region. We present a case series of plasma cell neoplasms involving the skull base, paranasal sinus, larynx, and mandible as an introduction to a complete review of the literature on plasma cell neoplasms of the head and neck area.