Oncologic progression of bone plasmacytomas to multiple myeloma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical aspects, diagnoses, prognostic factors, and percent progression of plasmacytoma to multiple myeloma.


METHODS
103 medical records of patients suspected of plasmacytoma were surveyed covering the period between 1950 and 1998, and 30 were selected for analysis. Patients were classified into 2 groups: patients who did (n = 17) and did not (n = 13) progress to multiple myeloma. Comparative statistics regarding a variety of clinical aspects were developed.


RESULTS
Patients who progressed to multiple myeloma were younger than those who did not (52.3 +/- 2.6 vs 62.6 +/- 3.4 years; mean +/- SEM; P = 0.02). There were no significant differences in gender between groups. A higher incidence of multiple recurrence was observed in patients who progressed to multiple myeloma (75%, P = 0.049). Both groups showed a prevalence of vertebral column injuries. No significant differences were found between groups regarding the disease period (from the onset of symptoms until diagnosis) (P = 0.20) and survival (P = 0.34). The average time to progression from plasmacytoma to myeloma was 41 +/- 39 months (mean +/- SD), and the progression rate was 57%.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who progressed to multiple myeloma were younger than those who did not. No significant differences were found between groups regarding sex, time from symptom onset to diagnosis, and survival time. In both groups, the most affected anatomic location was the vertebral column, and most affected sex was male. The average time to progression to multiple myeloma was 41 months. It was not possible to determine the factors that influenced the survival of patients with plasmacytoma or for those who progressed to multiple myeloma.
Bertanha
Fernanda
F
Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Hospital das Clínicas, São Paulo University Medical School, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Boufelli
Gabriela
G
de Camargo
Olavo Pires
OP
Baptista
André Mathias
AM
Caiero
Marcelo Tadeu
MT
de Oliveira
Claudia Regina G C M
CR
Filippi
Renée
R