Plasmacytoma
Encyclopedia
Plasmacytoma refers to a malignant
plasma cell
tumor
growing within soft tissue
or within the skeleton. The skeletal forms usually have other occult tumors and frequently disseminate to multiple myeloma
over the course of 5–10 years. The soft tissue forms most often occur in the upper respiratory tract, rarely disseminate, and are cured by resection. Most but not all cases produce paraproteinemia
. Solitary tumors in bone can be treated by radiotherapy.
"Plasmacytoma" is sometimes equated with "plasma cell dyscrasia" or "solitary myeloma".
It is often used as part of the phrase "solitary plasmacytoma".
It is also used as part of the phrase "extramedullary plasmacytoma ". In this context, "extramedullary" means outside of the bone marrow
.
) and bone marrow biopsy
. Immunoglobulin electrophoresis will show a monoclonal M spike, but bone marrow biopsy will fail to find the classical signs of multiple myeloma
. After those two determinations are made, search for the primary site in the soft tissue begins.
Malignant
Malignancy is the tendency of a medical condition, especially tumors, to become progressively worse and to potentially result in death. Malignancy in cancers is characterized by anaplasia, invasiveness, and metastasis...
plasma cell
Plasma cell
Plasma cells, also called plasma B cells, plasmocytes, and effector B cells, are white blood cells which produce large volumes of antibodies. They are transported by the blood plasma and the lymphatic system...
tumor
Tumor
A tumor or tumour is commonly used as a synonym for a neoplasm that appears enlarged in size. Tumor is not synonymous with cancer...
growing within soft tissue
Soft tissue
In anatomy, the term soft tissue refers to tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body, not being bone. Soft tissue includes tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, fibrous tissues, fat, and synovial membranes , and muscles, nerves and blood vessels .It is sometimes...
or within the skeleton. The skeletal forms usually have other occult tumors and frequently disseminate to multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
over the course of 5–10 years. The soft tissue forms most often occur in the upper respiratory tract, rarely disseminate, and are cured by resection. Most but not all cases produce paraproteinemia
Paraproteinemia
Paraproteinemia, or monoclonal gammopathy, is the presence of excessive amounts of a single monoclonal gammaglobulin in the blood...
. Solitary tumors in bone can be treated by radiotherapy.
Terminology
There can be some ambiguity when using the word."Plasmacytoma" is sometimes equated with "plasma cell dyscrasia" or "solitary myeloma".
It is often used as part of the phrase "solitary plasmacytoma".
It is also used as part of the phrase "extramedullary plasmacytoma ". In this context, "extramedullary" means outside of the bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
.
Diagnosis
It is diagnosed by immunoglobulin electrophoresis (or Serum protein electrophoresisSerum protein electrophoresis
Serum protein electrophoresis is a laboratory test that examines specific proteins in the blood called globulins. Blood must first be collected, usually into an airtight vial or syringe...
) and bone marrow biopsy
Bone marrow biopsy
Bone marrow examination refers to the pathologic analysis of samples of bone marrow obtained by bone marrow biopsy and bone marrow aspiration. Bone marrow examination is used in the diagnosis of a number of conditions, including leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, anemia, and pancytopenia...
. Immunoglobulin electrophoresis will show a monoclonal M spike, but bone marrow biopsy will fail to find the classical signs of multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
. After those two determinations are made, search for the primary site in the soft tissue begins.
See also
- Cutaneous B-cell lymphomaCutaneous B-cell lymphomaCutaneous B-cell lymphomas constitute a group of diseases that occur less commonly than cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and are characterized histologically by B-cells that appear similar to those normally found in germinal centers of lymph nodes...
- Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significanceMonoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significanceMonoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance , formerly benign monoclonal gammopathy, is a condition in which a paraprotein is found in the blood during standard laboratory tests...
or MGUS - Multiple myelomaMultiple myelomaMultiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
External links
- Educational Resource on Plasmacytomas
- The Internet Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
- The Doctor's Doctor
- Overview at National Cancer InstituteNational Cancer InstituteThe National Cancer Institute is part of the National Institutes of Health , which is one of 11 agencies that are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The NCI coordinates the U.S...