Details
67 year-old male. T3 vertebral mass biopsy. Clinically presented with back pain and spinal cord compression neurological symptomatology. Imaging reveals a lytic, expansile mass in T3 body encroaching the spinal cord. No other lesions on further imaging. Creatinine was not elevated, calcium was normal, and hemoglobin was normal.
Plasmacytomas are tumors derived from mature B-cells capable of secreting immunoglobulin. They can arise as solitary masses involving bone or soft tissue (solitary plasmacytoma) or may occur as a manifestation of underlying plasma cell myeloma, characterized by a monoclonal immunoglobulin in the blood (M-protein), immunoglobulin light chains in the urine (Bence Jones proteins), multiple lytic bone lesions, hypercalcemia, and renal insufficiency. As shown in this example, they are comprised of solid sheets of plasma cells, which have eccentrically placed nuclei, perinuclear hofs, and coarse "clockface" chromatin.