Primary plasma cell leukemia presenting as a thoracic mass

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal 2014-09, Vol.19 (39), p.39-39
• Main Authors: Igala, Marielle, Bopaka, Regis Gothar, Khtabi, Wiam, Benchekroun, Said, Quessar, Asma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Case Report; Humans; Leukemia, Plasma Cell - diagnosis; Leukemia, Plasma Cell - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - diagnosis; plasma cells leukaemia; Prognosis; pulmonary embolism; Pulmonary Embolism - etiology; thoracic mass
• ISSN: 1937-8688; 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2014.19.39.4546

Primary Plasma cell leukaemia (pPCL) is a rare plasma cell (PC) malignancy. The strict criteria for the diagnosis is an absolute PC number greater 2 × 10(9)/L or a plasmocytosis accounting for > 20% of the differential white cell count that does not arise from a pre-existing multiple myeloma. pPCL was associated with aggressive clinic-biological features. Primary Plasma cell leukaemia is more characterised by an extra medullar involvement such as hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, lepto-meningeal infiltration or extramedullary plasmocytomas. The prognosis of pPCL is very poor. We report the case of a fifty eight year-old man directed to the haematology department for diagnosis of pPCL revealed by a thoracic plasmocytomas mimicking a thoracic neoplasm. The patient received chemotherapy including a classic treatment for multiple myeloma but developed a pulmonary embolism. This case illustrates an uncommon presentation of pPCL the difficulty treating by multiple myeloma chemotherapy.