title: Development of plasma cell tumors during treatment of multiple myeloma.
abstract: Plasma cell tumors (plasmacytomas-PCT) of the bone, or extramedullary PCT, may be diagnosed in patients with or without the diagnostic criteria for systemic multiple myeloma (MM). The reason for the local development of these tumors is not clear. Recent reports emphasize the contribution of CT and MRI in the detection of bone lesions and their expansion into the soft tissues. We report the development of PCT in nine patients with MM under maintenance treatment with alpha-IFN, of whom six had no evidence of systemic relapse and three had indications of early relapse. The PCT were located in the pelvis (4), thoracic (3), cervical (1), and lumbar (2) spine and in 8/9 cases were not demonstrable on plain X-rays. These observations suggest that frequent screening with advanced imaging techniques may detect local disease expansion in asymptomatic patients. Early application of radiochemotherapy may improve prognosis.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens Medical School, Laiko General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaiopoulos
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Viniou
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Plata
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstantopoulos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andreopoulos
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rombos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meletis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loukopoulos
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yataganas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007952:Leukemia, Plasma Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha