INADEQUATELY IRRADIATED SOLITARY EXTRAMEDULLARY PLASMACYTOMA OF THE ORBIT REQUIRING EXENTERATION

PURPOSE: To emphasize that solitary orbital extramedullary plasmacytom a, a rare tumor, is not invariably radiosensitive. METHOD: We examined a patient who had under gone empirical irradiation that failed to con trol an orbital tumor. RESULTS: After a second biopsy had secured the diagnosis of a solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma, further irradiati on proved ineffective and exenteration was required. The patient was f ree of recurrence one year after exenteration and had satisfactory cos mesis with a prosthesis. CONCLUSION: A histologic diagnosis is essenti al before treatment is commenced so that the correct radiation dosage is used.