Difficult endoscopic diagnosis of a pancreatic plasmacytoma: Case report and review of literature

A case of multiple myeloma with pancreatic involvement diagnosed via endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration

This report highlights the importance of considering multiple myeloma in the differential diagnosis of a pancreatic tumor with bone lesions. sampling not only from the pancreatic lesion but also from bone lesions may reach an accurate diagnosis.

The utility of chest ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy in the diagnosis of plasmacytoma

Background

Plasmacytoma is a plasma cell dyscrasia originating from a single clone of plasma cells of B-lymphocyte lineage and produces a monoclonal immunoglobulin. Transthoracic fine-needle aspiration (TTNA) under ultrasound (US) guidance is a well-validated technique for the diagnosis of many neoplasms and has been shown to be safe and cost effective, with diagnostic yields comparable to more invasive techniques. However, the role of TTNA in the diagnosis of thoracic plasmacytoma is not well established.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the utility of TTNA and cytology in confirming a diagnosis of plasmacytoma.

Methods

All cases of plasmacytoma diagnosed from January 2006 to December 2017 by the Division of Pulmonology, Tygerberg Hospital, were retrospectively identified. All patients who underwent an US-guided TTNA and of whose clinical records could be retrieved were included in this cohort. The International Myeloma Working Group's definition of a plasmacytoma was used as the gold standard.

Results

A total of 12 cases of plasmacytoma were identified and 11 patients included (one patient was excluded owing to missing medical records). Six of the 11 patients (mean age 59.5 ± 8.5 years) were male. Radiologically, most had multiple lesions (n=7), most commonly bony (n=6) with vertebral body involvement (n=5) and pleural-based lesions (n=2). Rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE) was performed and documented in 6 of the 11 cases, and a provisional diagnosis of plasmacytoma was suggested in 5 of the 6 patients (83.3%). The final laboratory cytological diagnoses of all 11 cases were compatible with plasmacytoma which was further confirmed via a bone marrow biopsy (n=4) and by serum electrophoresis (n=7).

Conclusion

US-guided fine-needle aspiration is feasible and is useful to confirm a diagnosis of plasmacytoma. Its minimally invasive nature may be the ideal investigation of choice in suspected cases.

Multiple myeloma with onset of pancreas involvement: A case report

RATIONALE

Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological malignancy. Extramedullary involvement is one of the indicators of poor prognosis. There is no consensus in treatment options and the efficacy. This article reports a case of multiple myeloma with onset of pancreas involvement. Amyloidosis secondary to multiple myeloma and a partial response to the chemotherapy treatment further emphasized its rarity.

PATIENT CONCERNS

In this article, we report a 59-year-old male patient with a chief complaint of fatigue for 8 months and upper abdominal pain for 2 months.

DIAGNOSIS

The patients were diagnosed as amyloidosis secondary to multiple myeloma with pancreatic occupying (head-neck junction area) lesion based on laboratory examination and pathology from lymph node puncture and skin biopsy.

INTERVENTIONS

An intensive chemotherapy treatment as bortezomib, lenalidomide, dexamethasone, cisplatin, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide was given. Due to intolerance, treatment regimen was further adjusted to bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone.

OUTCOMES

The patient was 12 months alive. After 4 cycles of chemotherapy, a partial response was achieved and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging suggested a reduced pancreatic occupying lesion.

LESSONS

This case demonstrates that pancreatic involvement, digestive system neoplasm, and amyloidosis-related clinical features may be the earliest manifestations of multiple myeloma. For these patients, an intensive chemotherapy regimen may be a possible treatment approach.

Biliary Obstruction due to a Pancreatic Plasmacytoma

Obstructive jaundice, weight loss, and anorexia often raise a concern for pancreatic malignancy. Although pancreatic adenocarcinoma is the most common form of pancreatic cancer, not all pancreatic malignancies are exocrine in origin. With advancement in endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration, it has become easier to make correct diagnosis. Plasmacytoma of pancreas is a solitary tumor of plasma cells and it can also lead to the same clinical presentations. Immunohistochemistry is required to make the diagnosis of plasmacytoma. However, when there are other systemic manifestations, such as hypercalcemia, renal injury, and anemia, a diagnosis of multiple myeloma should be suspected and confirmed by cytology or biopsy. It is very important to differentiate plasmacytoma from multiple myeloma as the management for each is different. Herein, we describe a case of multiple myeloma presenting as a pancreatic plasmacytoma causing obstructive jaundice.

Pancreatic Extramedullary Plasmacytoma Presenting as a Pancreatic Mass

Extramedullary plasmacytomas (EMP) are a subcategory of plasma cell neoplasm that involves organs outside the bone marrow. Involvement of the pancreas is relatively rare, reported in only 2.3% of autopsies. Radiologic findings in plasmacytoma are nonspecific, but endoscopic ultrasound fine-needle aspiration is a fast and reliable technique to acquire a histologic sample for initial diagnosis. Recently, the use of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT has been recommended in patients with active multiple myeloma and solitary plasmacytoma. We present an interesting case of primary EMP in the pancreatic body encasing the portal vein as well as the celiac artery, which was detected before the patient was diagnosed of multiple myeloma.

Primary pancreatic plasmacytoma: a rare case report

BACKGROUND

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a very rare tumor derived from plasma cells and found outside the bone marrow. Most have been identified in patients with the more aggressive anaplastic form of the disease. Only a few cases of primary pancreatic plasmacytoma have been reported.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of a 56-year-old man in whom a pancreatic mass was found incidentally. The lesion was determined to be a pancreatic plasmacytoma after distal pancreatectomy. There are no indications of clinical, laboratory or imaging findings of multiple myeloma nor any association with plasmacytoma in any other places, so the diagnosis of primary pancreatic plasmacytoma was made.

CONCLUSION

Primary pancreatic plasmacytoma is rare and the diagnosis is difficult before surgery.

Rare Tumors and Lesions of the Pancreas

There are a few entities that account for most solid and cystic masses of the pancreas. The pancreas harbors a wide array of diseases, including adenocarcinoma, and its variants, such as anaplastic and adenosquamous carcinoma. Other neoplasms include acinar cell carcinoma, solid pseudopapillary tumor, and sarcomas. Benign lesions include hamartomas, hemangiomas, lymphangioma, and plasmacytoma. Isolated metastases include renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, and other carcinomas. Benign inflammatory conditions, such as autoimmune pancreatitis and groove pancreatitis can also mimic solid neoplasms of the pancreas.