Gastrointestinal plasmacytoma that caused anemia in a patient with multiple myeloma

Gastrointestinal bleeding as initial presentation of extramedullary plasma cell neoplasms: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Plasma-cell neoplasms rarely involve the gastrointestinal tract and manifest as gastrointestinal bleeding. Plasmablastic myeloma is an aggressive plasma cell neoplasm associated with poor outcomes. A small number of cases with gastrointestinal involvement is reported in the literature and therefore high index of suspicion is essential for avoiding delays in diagnosis and treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

Our aim is to present our experience of a 70-year-old patient with a secondary presentation of plasmablastic myeloma manifesting as unstable upper gastrointestinal bleeding and to review the literature with the view to consolidate and discuss information about diagnosis and management of this rare entity. In addition to our case, a literature search (PubMed database) of case reports of extramedullary plasma cell neoplasms manifesting as upper gastrointestinal bleeding was performed. Twenty-seven cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) involving the stomach and small bowel presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were retrieved. The majority of patients were males (67%). The average age on diagnosis was 62.7 years. The most common site of presentation was the stomach (41%), followed by the duodenum (15%). The most common presenting complaint was melena (44%). In the majority of cases, the EMPs were a secondary manifestation (63%) at the background of multiple myeloma (26%), plasmablastic myeloma (7%) or high-grade plasma cell myeloma (4%). Oesophagogastroscopy was the main diagnostic modality and chemotherapy the preferred treatment option for secondary EMPs.

CONCLUSION

Despite their rare presentation, upper gastrointestinal EMPs should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding especially in the presence of systemic haematological malignancy.

Successful treatment of a primary gastric plasmacytoma mimicking intractable gastric ulcer by using high-dose dexamethasone therapy: a case report

Background

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a plasma cell neoplasm that presents as a solitary lesion in soft tissue. Most extramedullary plasmacytomas involve the nasopharynx or upper respiratory tract. Primary plasmacytoma of the stomach is extremely rare.

Case presentation

A 78-year-old Korean woman presented with epigastric pain for 3 months. She had a history of an intractable gastric ulcer despite repeated endoscopic biopsies and appropriate medical therapy for the ulcer. She underwent another endoscopy and a biopsy was performed for multiple large and deep specimens. Ultimately, primary gastric plasmacytoma was confirmed. However, she and her attendant refused standard local radiotherapy or surgical resection. She came to our emergency room 3 months later with hematemesis due to a large gastric ulcer, despite management with medication for over 3 months at a local clinic. We again recommended local radiation or surgical resection. However, as she was willing to undergo only medical therapy, she was prescribed high-dose dexamethasone. Surprisingly, her ulcer completely regressed and remission was maintained for over 1 year.

Conclusions

We report successful treatment of a rare primary gastric plasmacytoma mimicking intractable ulcer by using high-dose dexamethasone. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case successfully treated with only high-dose dexamethasone.

Endobronchial plasmacytoma in patient with multiple myeloma

Endobronchial plasmacytoma is a rare manifestation of extramedullary plasmacytoma. A 49-year-old woman with a history of multiple myeloma consulted to our pulmonary service with progressive dyspnoea and cough and abnormal chest X-ray. A lesion measuring 6 × 5 cm in size existed in anterior baseline of the right lung's lower lobe in thoracic computed tomography in addition to right bronchial narrowing and atelectasis distal in lesions. Diagnostic bronchoscopy was performed previously for the obstruction and biopsy was taken from the lesion in the right middle lobe bronchus. Endobronchial biopsies showed extensive tumour infiltration with plasmocytoid cells. Immunohistochemistry was positive CD138 and Lamda. Microscopic and immunohistochemical findings supported the diagnosis of extramedullary endobronchial plasmacytoma.

Rare Synchronous Gastrointestinal Plasmacytomas of Colon and Stomach

Gastrointestinal (GI) plasmacytomas, though relatively uncommon, can occur with or without multiple myeloma. The small intestine is the most commonly involved GI site, followed by stomach, colon, and esophagus. Synchronous plasmacytomas involving 2 anatomically distinct regions of gastrointestinal tract have never been reported in the literature. We report a case of a multiple myeloma patient who had acute-onset hematochezia and was found to have synchronous plasmacytomas of the colon and stomach.

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the small intestine: clinical features, diagnosis and treatment

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) of the small intestine is an unusual plasma cell neoplasm in this anatomic region with only 61 cases described so far. Clinical suspicion is infrequent owing to its location and nonspecific manifestations such as abdominal pain, obstructive symptoms or even bleeding. Diagnosis is reached through histopathological examination coupled with immunohistochemistry of the endoscopic biopsy or surgical resection specimens. Nevertheless, the differential diagnosis between EMP, lymphoma and other kinds of tumors can sometimes be troublesome. The managements include surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Generally, the prognosis of EMP is favorable, but occasionally it may relapse, or progress to a plasma cell myeloma. EMP should therefore be followed-up for a long period after treatment. In this comprehensive review of the current literature, the patients' characteristics, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and outcome were discussed.

Extramedullary duodenal plasmacytoma presenting with gastric outlet obstruction and painless jaundice

Malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma are predominantly confined to the medullary space of the skeletal system, therefore the disease course will be dominated by signs and symptoms related to bone marrow infiltration and destructive bone lesions with their consequences as well as abnormal protein production. Visceral extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the gastrointestinal system and particularly the duodenum is a rare manifestation of the disease. We report a case of duodenal extramedullary plasmacytoma presenting with gastric outlet obstruction and painless jaundice, in a patient treated for multiple myeloma. Diagnosis was first suggested on imaging, and proved by endoscopic biopsy. The duodenal mass resolved following chemotherapy.

Mediastinal plasmacytoma with multiple myeloma presenting as a diagnostic dilemma

Plasmacytoma are extramedullary accumulations of plasma cells. Most extramedullary Plasmacytomas are associated with the upper respiratory tract. The mediastinum is rarely involved. We report a rare case of mediastinal plasmacytoma with multiple myeloma. The patient is 66 year old woman presented with bone pains and mediastinal mass on CT scan and MRI. The preliminary diagnosis of occult lung cancer with mediastinal involvement, and widespread skeletal metastasis was made, although lymphoproliferative disorder along with germ cell tumor was also kept in differentials.

The diagnosis of mediastinal plasmacytoma with multiple myeloma was made after extensive investigations