Hemophagocytic, non-secretory multiple myeloma.
A 70-year-old woman presented with pancytopenia associated with plasma cell infiltration of her bone marrow. The plasma cells were often multinucleated and demonstrated phagocytosis of erythroid and granulocytic cells. Atypical immunophenotypic features included the expression of CD117 and CD13 and the lack of expression of CD56. Although kappa chains were demonstrable in the cytoplasm, no paraprotein was found in the serum or urine. Osteolytic lesions were absent. The pancytopenia of this unusual patient with non-secretory, hemophagocytic myeloma has improved on dexamethasone monotherapy, although her hemophagocytosis persists.
Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 177 Fort Washington Avenue, New York City, NY 10032, USA. dgs5@columbia.edu
David G
DG
Savage
Deborah
D
Zipin
Govind
G
Bhagat
Bachir
B
Alobeid
D000368:Aged; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D010198:Pancytopenia; D010587:Phagocytosis
D003907:Dexamethasone