Plasmacytoma of the atlas presenting as hoarseness: a rare cause of unilateral vocal fold palsy.
BACKGROUND
Solitary bone plasmacytoma is a rare haematological malignancy that can present in a variety of ways. This study aimed to present a case of plasmacytoma of the atlas, as a rare cause of unilateral vocal fold palsy.


METHODS
Case report.


RESULTS
Following diagnosis via imaging and direct biopsy through the posterior pharyngeal wall, the patient was referred to the haematologists for further treatment of his plasmacytoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Solitary bony plasmacytoma of the cervical spine is a rare haematological malignancy. Its presentation with a unilateral vocal fold palsy has not been previously described.
Department of ENT, The Lister Hospital, Stevenage, UK.
J
J
Kapoor
A
A
Trinidade
G
G
Mochloulis
W
W
Mohamid
D000368:Aged; D001270:Cervical Atlas / Q000473:pathology; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014826:Vocal Cord Paralysis / Q000209:etiology*