Head and neck manifestations of myeloma in Nigerians

Radiation Therapy for Plasma Cell Disease of the Brain and Skull: Poor Palliation and Survival After Treatment for Central Nervous System Involvement

Purpose

Myeloma lesions of the head can present with central nervous system (CNS) involvement (leptomeningeal disease or brain metastasis), cranial neuropathy (CN), or impending neurologic involvement (INI). We analyzed response and survival after palliative radiation therapy (RT) to the brain and/or skull for myeloma lesions to determine whether CNS involvement fared worse than other RT indications.

Methods and Materials

We retrospectively analyzed 54 palliative RT courses administered at our institution from 2008 to 2019. Eleven courses were administered for CNS disease, 28 for CN, and 15 for INI. Demographic, disease, and RT variables were recorded as well as clinical response, radiographic response, and survival. Univariate analyses were performed for differences between groups, effects of clinical and RT treatment factors on response, as well as dose response. Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test.

Results

This heavily pretreated cohort received a median of 20 to 24 Gy, most often to the base of skull, orbit(s), calvarium, or whole brain. Any clinical response (partial or complete vs no response or progressive disease) was significantly more likely for patients with CN and INI when collectively compared with patients with CNS disease (P < .001). Dose response was significant for doses ≥15 and 20 Gy for the whole cohort (P = .026 and .005, respectively) and patients with CN/INI (P = .023 and .002, respectively). Additionally, patients with high-risk cytogenetics were less likely to clinically respond (P = .009). Patients with CNS disease had worse survival (P = .005).

Conclusions

Patients with leptomeningeal disease/brain metastasis have poor clinical response and survival after RT and their responses do not demonstrate a dose response. Given these poor outcomes, the potential benefit of RT may be limited for some patients who may be alternatively managed by supportive care or short RT courses. Patients with CN/INI have longer survival and better response rates and may benefit from RT courses ≥15 to 20 Gy.

Plasmacytoma and plasma cell myeloma affecting the jaws: A multi-institutional collaborative study

BACKGROUND

Plasma cell neoplasms are characterized by the proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells with production of a monoclonal immunoglobulin. They can manifest as a single lesion (plasmacytoma) or as multiple lesions (multiple myeloma).

METHODS

Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of patients microscopically diagnosed with plasma cell neoplasms in the jaws were retrieved from five pathology files. Data including clinical, radiographic, microscopic and immunohistochemical findings, treatment employed and follow-up status were retrieved from the pathology reports.

RESULTS

Fifty-two cases were retrieved (mean age: 59.4 years) without sex predilection. The mandible was the most affected site (67.3%), usually associated with pain and/or paresthesia (53.8%). Lesions in other bones besides the jaws were reported for 24 patients (46.2%). Radiographically, tumours usually presented as poorly defined osteolytic lesions with unilocular or multilocular images, while microscopy revealed diffuse proliferation of neoplastic plasma cells with nuclear displacement and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Two cases were classified as anaplastic, and amyloid deposits were found in two other cases. Immunohistochemistry was positive for plasma cell markers and negative for CD20 and CD3, and monoclonality for kappa light chain predominated. The overall survival rate after 5 years of follow-up was 26.6%.

CONCLUSION

Plasma cell neoplasms are aggressive tumours with a poor prognosis and involvement of the jaws may be the first complaint of the patient. Thus, oral pathologists, head and neck surgeons and dentists should be aware of their clinical, radiographic and microscopic manifestations.

Can dentists detect multiple myeloma through oral manifestations?

OBJECTIVE

To review published data on oral manifestations of multiple myeloma.

METHODS

An electronic database search was performed of articles published from 1971 to November 2016 in order to identify studies that reported oral manifestations of patients with multiple myeloma. Case reports and case series with oral manifestations of multiple myeloma in English were included in the study. An additional search was performed of the references of the selected articles.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven articles that reported 81 patients with oral manifestations of multiple myeloma were selected: 30 case reports (82%) and seven case series (18%). The most common clinical features in the dental cavity were swelling (65.4%), bone pain (33.3%), paresthesia (27.1%) and amyloidosis lesions (11.1%). Osteolytic lesions detected on imaging exams were reported in the majority of the patients (90.1%) as plasmacytomas or 'punched-out' lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

Swelling and osteolytic lesions represent the most common clinical and radiographic signs of the jaws relating to multiple myeloma, respectively.

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.

Recurrence of Isolated Multiple Myeloma in the Skull Base: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the skull base is rare. We describe what we believe is the first reported case of recurrent multiple myeloma presenting as an isolated lesion in the central skull base in a patient with no evidence of systemic involvement. We discuss the patient's presentation, clinical course, and treatment, and we review the relevant scientific literature.

Medical management update: Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematologic malignancy characterized by abnormal proliferation of immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells. Manifestations of MM may include anemia, osteolytic lesions, and renal dysfunction. Treatment for this disease chiefly consists of corticosteroids, bisphosphonates, chemotherapy, and hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation. This medical management update will review recent clinical and therapeutic advances in the field of MM and highlight issues that are important to the oral health care provider.