Solitary Plasmacytoma of the Jaw Occurring in an Elderly Woman Affected by Hepatitis C Virus Infection: A Case Report

Unusual presentation of a soft palate mass: A rare case report of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma

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Plasmacytoma is a rare clonal neoplastic disorder of bone marrow that originates from plasma cells. It usually presents as a multiple myeloma. Less than 5% of patients present with either a single bone lesion as a solitary bone plasmacytoma or, even more rarely, as a soft tissue mass of monoclonal plasma cells representing a solitary extra medullary plasmacytoma (SEP).

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Diagnostic criteria of a SEP include a solitary lesion, histopathological confirmation, negative bone marrow examination or clonal plasma cells infiltration less than 10% of all nucleated cells, normal results on skeletal survey, negative urine test for Bence Jones protein, absence of anemia, hypercalcemia or renal impairment, absent or low serum or urinary level of monoclonal immunoglobulins.

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The primary treatment for most patients is radiotherapy, but surgery may also be required, and multidisciplinary decision between surgeon, hematologist and radiotherapist is crucial for planning optimum care.

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Our case report is unique in the clinical presentation and treatment option (chemotherapy) as the patient refused other treatment options.

Introduction

Plasmacytoma is a rare clonal neoplastic disorder of bone marrow that originates from plasma cells. It usually presents as a multiple myeloma (MM). Less than 5% of patients present with either a single bone lesion as a solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) or, even more rarely, as a soft tissue mass of monoclonal plasma cells representing a solitary extra medullary plasmacytoma (SEP).

Case presentation

We report a case of a 59-year-old man presenting with a mass of the soft palate evolving for a year. Physical examination showed an extension to the nasal cavity. Biopsy with immunohistochemical study demonstrated sheets of mononucleated plasmacytoid cells diffusely expressing CD138. The plasma cells showed monoclonal light chain Kappa. Further investigations did not show any other locations including bone and bone marrow. Thus, diagnosis of solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the soft palate was established. The patient was treated with chemotherapy with total remission on his one year follow-up.

Discussion

SEP may arise in any organ, either as a primary tumor or as part of a MM. Almost 90% of SEP arise in the head and neck, especially in the upper respiratory tract. Primary treatment for most patients is radiotherapy, but surgery may also be required, and multidisciplinary decision between surgeon, hematologist and radiotherapist is crucial for planning optimum care.

Conclusion

SEP is an extremely rare condition which requires diagnostic and therapeutic management in the same level of MM. Prognosis is better than the two other forms (MM and SBP).

Late Onset Graft Plasmacytoma-Like PTLD Presenting as Acute Hyperglycemia in a Kidney-Pancreas Transplant Recipient

Allograft infiltration has been described in up to 20% of all patients with posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), most representing EBV-positive B-cell lymphomas. Plasma cells are often observed in humoral rejection biopsies, but graft infiltration by plasmacytoma-like PTLD is rare. We report the case of a 54-year-old simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant recipient (immunosuppression: OKT3, methylprednisolone, cyclosporine, and azathioprine), diagnosed with an IgG-kappa monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance eighteen years after transplant. Nine months later, pancreas allograft biopsy performed due to new-onset hyperglycemia (HgA1C 8.6%, C-peptide 6.15ng/mL and anti-GAD 0.9UI/mL) revealed a monotypic plasma cell infiltrate, CD19, CD79a, CD138 positive, with IgG-kappa light chain restriction, and EBV negative. PET-scan FDG uptake was limited to pancreas allograft. Tumor origin could not be established (using DNA microsatellite analysis). Despite treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone, patient eventually died one month later. This is the first report of a late onset extramedullary plasmacytoma involving a pancreas allograft.

Multiple myeloma presenting as plasmacytoma of the jaws showing prominent bone formation during chemotherapy

A 65-year-old female visited our hospital complaining of a swelling on the left cheek area of 2 years' duration. A panoramic radiograph revealed an ill-defined osteolytic radiolucent bony lesion involving the left mandibular angle, ascending ramus, coronoid process and condylar process. Histological examination showed the mandibular lesion to be a plasmacytoma, and a systemic work-up was obtained to rule out multiple myeloma. Contrast-enhanced CT images showed a well-defined and slightly enhanced round mass on the left ramal area, accompanied by the destruction of the left ramus and posterior maxilla. An (18)F-fluorodeoxy-glucose positron emission tomography CT ((18)F-FDG PET/CT) scan revealed a hypermetabolic mass extending from the left mandible to the left maxillary sinus. The patient had M-protein in serum and urine, plasma cells up to 36.5% on bone marrow biopsy and anaemia as a clinical complication. The patient was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and received chemotherapy with thalidomide, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone. A PET/CT scan taken 6 months later revealed that the hypermetabolic mass had disappeared and there was remarkable bone formation on the left mandible compared with a previous PET/CT scan. A panoramic radiograph taken 8 months later also demonstrated a prominent bone formation of the affected site. To the best of our knowledge, the current case is the first report of multiple myeloma presenting as plasmacytoma of the mandible with an FDG PET/CT scan. The lesion was solitary at diagnosis, and remarkable bone formation was newly observed on the radiographic examination during chemotherapy.

Solitary orbital plasmacytoma associated with chronic hepatitis C: a case report

PURPOSE

To report a rare case of solitary orbital plasmacytoma associated with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODS

We have reviewed the case of a man who presented with soft tissue mass in the superolateral orbit. Biopsy demonstrated immunohistochemical positivity of plasma cells for lambda light chains and CD56. Systemic evaluation was negative for multiple myeloma, and the diagnosis of solitary orbital plasmacytoma was made.

RESULTS

We comment on the rarity of the case according to the reviewed literature.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the correlation between hepatitis C and other lymphoproliferative disorders, we conclude hepatitis C may also be associated with solitary plasmacytomas.