Extramedullary Plasmacytoma of Nasal Cavity: A Case Report and Literature Review

• Published in: Ear, nose, & throat journal Vol. 101; no. 6; pp. NP245 - NP250
• Main Authors: Hu, Xianwen, Peng, Chaoyan, Wang, Pan, Cai, Jiong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2022; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Biopsy; Case reports; Epistaxis; Nose; Otolaryngology; Tomography; Tumors; computed tomography; case report; nasal cavity; extramedullary plasmacytoma
• DOI: 10.1177/0145561320960005
• ISSN: 0145-5613

Extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a tumor characterized by plasma cell proliferation in organs or tissues outside the bone marrow. It originates from B lymphocytes and can occur in all extramedullary tissues and organs of the body. Primary EMPs of the nasal cavity are relatively rare and mostly presented as case reports. Nasal EMP usually manifests as nasal obstruction, epistaxis, and progressive dyspnea. A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of rhinorrhagia with nasal obstruction. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a mass in the right nasal passage, which we resected under nasal endoscopy. At the 2-year follow-up, positron emission tomography/CT showed osteolytic bone destruction in the third cervical vertebra and its accessories, accompanied by increased metabolism. We considered the possibility of progression to myeloma, but the patient refused another puncture biopsy. We reviewed the literature for the clinical characteristics and CT findings of 14 patients pathologically confirmed with EMPs of the nasal cavity. All patients had nonspecific clinical manifestations, such as nasal obstruction and epistaxis. Computed tomography mostly showed a uniform-density polypoid mass in the nasal cavity. Therefore, nasal EMP should be included in the differential diagnosis of nasal polyps and other nasal tumors.