Introduction
Plasma cell leukemia is an uncommon variant of leukemia that may occur de novo or in association with multiple myeloma. It is considered the most aggressive plasma cell disorder and is characterized by a proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the blood and bone marrow [ 1 ]. Plasma cell leukemia cutis is a rare clinical phenomenon with a poor prognosis [ 2 ]. We present a man who developed numerous eruptive cutaneous nodules in association with multiple myeloma.
Case presentation
A 62-year-old man presented to the hospital for evaluation of progressive vision loss and back pain. His past medical history was significant for plasma cell leukemia-multiple myeloma since September 2015. His treatment regimen was as follows: VCD (bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone), RVD (lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone), Kyprolis-dex (carfilzomib and dexamethasone), pomalyst (pomalidomide), hyper CVAD (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone) and autologous stem cell transplant.
He developed asymptomatic cutaneous nodules on the arms and legs 50 days after stem cell transplant. Cutaneous examination revealed erythematous, firm, non-tender, and smooth nodules, which ranged from 8 mm to 2 cm in diameter on the proximal upper arms (Figure 1 ) and bilateral lower extremities (Figures 2 - 4 ). One nodule was on each proximal arm, 10 were on the right upper leg, and two were on the left upper leg.
His laboratory studies from 11/14/2016 showed a total leukocyte count of 3.1 × 10 9 /L with 45% polymorphonuclear cells and 30% lymphocytes. His hemoglobin was 8.1 gm/dL and the platelet count was 62,000. Monoclonal kappa light chain bands were noted in the blood and urine. Biochemical parameters were: serum creatinine 0.66 mg/dL, serum calcium 8.3 mg/dL, total serum proteins 6.3 g/dL, and alkaline phosphatase 36 U/L. His serum bilirubin and liver enzymes were within normal limits.
Magnetic resonance imaging of his brain (11/11/2016) and spine (11/13/2016) showed leukemic involvement of the brain and lumbar intrathecal space. The patient’s cerebrospinal fluid was found to have large, immature plasmacytoid cells. Flow cytometry revealed clonal, kappa-restricted plasma cells.
A punch biopsy for pathology and tissue culture (bacterial, fungal, and mycobacteria) was performed on the right upper leg on 11/11/2016. The biopsy showed sheets of plasmacytoid cells arranged in a nodular aggregate with pronounced atypical nuclei (Figures 5 - 8 ). Immunohistochemistry was performed with CD20 (B-lymphocyte antigen), PAX-5 (B-cell-specific activator protein), CD138 (syndecan-1, a plasma cell marker), and kappa/lambda chromogenic in situ hybridization. The cells of interest were negative for CD20 and PAX-5. Plasma cell lineage was confirmed with CD138 immunolabeling of the neoplastic cells (Figure 9 ), and clonality was demonstrated with kappa-light chain restriction (Figures 10 - 11 ). These results corresponded to previous characteristics of the patient’s myeloma. Tissue cultures were negative.
Correlation of the history, clinical presentation, and histopathology/immunohistochemical studies confirmed the diagnosis of plasma cell leukemia. The patient’s progressive vision loss and back pain was attributable to central nervous system involvement of his plasma cell leukemia. The patient received dartumumab (monoclonal CD38-inhibitor) for his systemic disease. He also received intrathecal cytarabine before and after radiation to treat his central nervous system relapse.
The patient was later admitted for failure to thrive and shortness of breath, with concern of a possible lung infection [ 3 ]. He was then transferred to hospice care and succumbed to his underlying disease and sepsis. The patient died at day 75 post-transplant, 25 days after his diagnosis of leukemia cutis.
Discussion
The patient described in this report had leukemia cutis associated with secondary plasma cell leukemia. Leukemia cutis is an infiltration of the skin by malignant leukocytes or their precursors. Leukemia cutis often presents in association with systemic leukemia, but can also be a precocious manifestation, rarely appearing prior to leukemic cells appearing in peripheral blood or bone marrow. It is associated with a poor prognosis with life expectancy of less than 12 months after diagnosis [ 2 , 4 - 5 ]. Leukemia cutis is most commonly seen in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, but also occurs in other hematologic malignancies [ 4 ].
Plasma cell leukemia – an aggressive, uncommon variant of leukemia – represents only two percent of plasma cell neoplasms. Plasma cell leukemia is defined by greater than 2 × 10 9 plasma cells per liter in a peripheral blood smear, or more than 20% of peripheral blood cells [ 1 ]. There are two forms of plasma cell leukemia: primary (de novo in the absence of multiple myeloma) and secondary (occurring within the context of multiple myeloma) [ 6 ]. When plasma cell leukemia develops within the context of multiple myeloma, as in our patient, it is considered an aggressive variant of multiple myeloma [ 2 ]. In patients with secondary leukemia cutis associated with multiple myeloma, the immunophenotype of the cutaneous infiltrate typically matches that of the patient’s myeloma [ 5 ].
The lesions of leukemia cutis in patients with plasma cell leukemia have been referred to as cutaneous plasmacytomas or extramedullary plasmacytomas of the skin [ 6 ]. Plasmacytomas are clonal proliferations of plasma cells in tissue that may be extraosseous or extramedullary [ 2 ]. Clinically, cutaneous plasmacytomas present as solitary or multiple slowly growing violaceous or purpuric dermal or subcutaneous nodules [ 6 ].
Pathergy is the development of a cutaneous condition at a prior site of trauma. Pathergy may trigger the development of plasma cell leukemia cutis. One report describes a 62-year-old man with plasma cell leukemia cutis who developed plasma cell leukemia cutis at venipuncture sites where needles and catheters had been inserted [ 7 ]. Interestingly, cutaneous leukemic infiltrations have been observed to occur in locally immunocompromised cutaneous areas, secondary to burns, herpes zoster viral infections, intramuscular injections, recent surgeries, and trauma [ 4 , 8 ].
The evaluation of new skin lesions in leukemic patients should always include a skin biopsy for pathology and tissue cultures. Light microscopy should be performed, along with immunohistochemical stains or immunophenotyping when indicated. Bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial cultures should also be obtained to evaluate for possible infectious etiology [ 9 ]. Our patient’s lesions were a cutaneous manifestation of his underlying plasma cell leukemia. However, we also considered infectious causes in the differential diagnosis of his subcutaneous nodules, as the patient was an immunocompromised individual.
The therapeutic management of plasma cell leukemia cutis is to target the underlying systemic disease. This may be accomplished by systemic chemotherapy in combination with local therapy such as radiation or surgery [ 7 , 9 ]. Our patient received dartumumab (monoclonal CD38-inhibitor) for his systemic disease, with one dose of intrathecal cytarabine prior to and following radiation for his central nervous system relapse. However, he succumbed to his plasma cell leukemia-myeloma 25 days after developing leukemia cutis.
Conclusions
Leukemia cutis associated with plasma cell leukemia, as confirmed by biopsy in our patient, is rare. Plasma cell leukemia may occur de novo or in association with multiple myeloma. Leukemia cutis in patients with plasma cell leukemia is an extraordinarily uncommon clinical presentation and associated with a very poor prognosis. New cutaneous lesions in a patient with plasma cell leukemia should be regarded with great concern and biopsied promptly to establish the definitive diagnosis. Treatment for plasma cell leukemia cutis should be directed at treating the underlying systemic disease.
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Human Ethics
Informed consent obtained.
References
1 Plasma cell leukemia: update on biology and therapy Leuk Lymphoma Mina R D’Agostino M Cerrato C 1538 1547 58 2017 27819179 10.1080/10428194.2016.1250263
2 Cutaneous nodules as a diagnostic clue in multiple myeloma Am J Dermatopathol Ballester-Martínez MA González-García C Fleta-Asín B 377 380 35 2013 23095339 10.1097/DAD.0b013e3182726e79
3 Failure to thrive in elderly adults Medscape 5 2017 Ali N 2015 http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2096163-overview
4 What are these erythematous skin lesions? The Dermatologist 4 2017 Jin CC Martinelli PT Cohen PR 20 2012 http://www.the-dermatologist.com/content/what-are-these-erythematous-skin-lesions
5 Cutaneous involvement in multiple myeloma: a clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and cytogenetic study of 8 cases Arch Dermatol Requena L Kutzner H Palmedo G 475 486 139 2003 12707095 10.1001/archderm.139.4.475
6 Hemorrhagic skin nodules and plaques: a diagnostic clue to underlying primary plasma cell leukemia Indian J Dermatol Gupta R Nath AK Subbian M 203 205 61 2016 27057024 10.4103/0019-5154.177762 PMC4817449
7 Plasma cell leukaemia cutis preferentially localized to recent puncture sites Br J Dermatol Kim JE Kim MY Kim HO 237 238 151 2004 15270902 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2004.06025.x
8 The immunocompromised district in dermatology: a unifying pathogenic view of the regional immune dysregulation Clin Dermatol Ruocco V Ruocco E Piccolo V 569 576 32 2014 25160098 10.1016/j.clindermatol.2014.04.004
9 Leukemia cutis Am J Clin Pathol Cho-Vega JH Medeiros LJ Prieto VG 130 142 129 2008 18089498 10.1309/WYACYWF6NGM3WBRT