COLONIC OBSTRUCTION INDUCED BY PLASMA-CELL GRANULOMA OF THE TRANSVERSE COLON - REPORT OF A CASE

Plasma cell granuloma is mainly composed of reactive plasma cell proli feration, the origin of which is uncertain. Immunohistochemically, the plasma cells are characterized by a polyclonal nature, and must be di stinguished from plasmacytoma which displays a monoclonal nature. This tumor is most commonly found in the lung and bronchus, but has rarely been described in the alimentary tract. We report herein a case of pl asma cell granuloma of the transverse colon. A 71-year-old woman was a dmitted for lower abdominal pain with severe inflammation and anemia. Ultrasound examination and computed tomography showed an abdominal tum or. Barium enema revealed the tumor to be located in the transverse co lon causing colonic obstruction. The resected tumor was spherical and mainly spread in the submucosal laver. Microscopically, the tumor cons isted of severe infiltration of mature plasma cells within the spindle -shaped myofibroblasts, Immunohistochemical studies showed IgA, IgG, I gM, and kappa and lambda chains, and revealed a polyclonal nature of t he plasma cells. Thus, a pathological diagnosis of plasma cell granulo ma affecting the transverse colon was made. To the best of our knowled ge, this is the first report of successful surgical resection of plasm a cell granuloma of the colon.