Abstract
A retrospective clinicopathologic review of 17 solitary myelomas (SMs) including 13 osseous (solitary plasmacytomas of bone [SPB]) and four extraosseous (extramedullary plasmacytomas [EMP]) tumors in 14 male and three female patients was undertaken. The average age of patients with SPB and EMP was 47.2 years and 48.75 years, respectively, and the most common site was the spine and the head and neck, respectively. The possible utility of histologic and cytologic characteristics of the tumor cells to predict evolution to multiple myeloma (MM) was studied. Follow-up was 63 months (SPB) and 107 months (EMP). No consistent cytohistologic features emerged in patients ultimately evolving either into MM (three patients) or developing recurrences (two patients). Thus, although the correct recognition of SM, as distinct from MM, has clinical relevance, morphology does not help further prognostication.
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