title: Plasma Cell Leukemia Presenting as a Chest Wall Mass: A Case Report.
abstract: Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is an uncommon neoplasm of plasma cells, with an aggressive clinical course and poor outcome, even with current standard of care. It can occur either de novo (primary PCL) or as a progression of multiple myeloma (MM). This disease has unique diagnostic criteria but certain genetic markers and clinical features may overlap with MM. Due to the low prevalence of PCL, guidelines on its management are extrapolated from the management of MM and based on small retrospective studies and cases reports/series. We present an interesting case of PCL in a middle-aged African-American male, who was diagnosed incidentally after chest wall imaging for an unrelated complaint. The diagnostic approach, management and outcomes of PCL are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Yonette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Stanley Madu
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nwabudike
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Onyekachi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ogbonna
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Mica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grantham
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Howard University Hospital, Washington, D.C., USA.
authors.forename: Lekidelu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taddesse-Heath
keywords: Chest wall mass; Multiple myeloma; Plasma cell leukemia; Tumor lysis