A clinicopathologic study of solitary myeloma - An 11-year study

A retrospective clinicopathologic review of 17 solitary myelomas (SMs) incl uding 13 osseous (solitary plasmacytomas of bone [SPB]) and four extraosseo us (extramedullary plasmacytomas [EMP]) tumors in 14 male and three female patients was undertaken. The average age of patients with SPB and EMP was 4 7.2 years and 48.75 years, respectively, and the most common site was the s pine and the head and neck, respectively. The possible utility of histologi c and cytologic characteristics of the tumor cells to predict evolution to multiple myeloma (MM) was studied. Follow-up was 63 months (SPB) and 107 mo nths (EMP). No consistent cytohistologic features emerged in patients ultim ately evolving either into MM (three patients) or developing recurrences (t wo patients). Thus, although the correct recognition of SM, as distinct fro m MM, has clinical relevance, morphology does not help further prognosticat ion.