[Locally recurring extramedullary plasmacytoma of the upper aerodigestive tract]

Extramedullary plasmacytoma: Tumor occurrence and therapeutic concepts-A follow-up

BACKGROUND

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a solitary tumor consisting of neoplastic plasma cells, with very little to no bone marrow involvement. EMPs are usually located in the head and neck region, but can also occur along the digestive tract, in lungs, or extremities.

METHODS

Following our publication on EMP, which appeared in 1999 (Cancer 85:2305-14), we conducted a literature search for EMP-related reports published between 1999 and 2021. The documented cases, as well as 14 of our own patients from the ENT Clinic Erlangen, were extensively analyzed.

RESULTS

Between 1998 and 2021, 1134 patients with EMP were reported, for whom information about the tumor localization was available. Among those, 62.4% had EMP in the head and neck area and 37.6% in other body regions. Data on therapy were reported in 897 patients, including 34.3% who received radiation, 28.1% surgery, 22.6% a combination of surgery and radiation, and 15.9% another therapy. In 76.9% patients no recurrence or transformation to multiple myeloma (MM) was reported, 12.8% showed local recurrence and 10.2% developed MM. Radiotherapy alone was associated with a tendency for increased occurrence of MM. In patients with EMP of head and neck area, combination therapy (surgery and radiation) resulted in a 5-year overall survival rate of 98.3%, surgery alone of 92.4%, and radiotherapy of 92.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our analyses indicate that surgical resection alone can achieve long-term tumor control in patients with EMP, if the tumor can be removed within safe limits without causing serious functional impairment. However, if this is not certain, either radiation or a combination of surgery and radiation therapy is suggested as an effective means of local tumor control.

Extramedullary Plasmacytoma Manifesting as a Palpable Mass in the Nasal Cavity

We report a rare case of plasmacytoma of the nasal cavity in a 60-year-old man. The patient had a history of a steadily growing and palpable mass in the opening of the left nostril. The tumor was found to be localized, and it was identified as an extramedullary plasmacytoma. The patient underwent therapy with 55 Gy of radiation. Six months following the cessation of radiotherapy, the size of the tumor had not changed. The mass was then completely excised under microscopic vision. Histopathologic examination identified the growth as a plasmacytoma with monotypic light-chain expression. To optimize the management of patients with an extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck, interdisciplinary management is mandatory.