Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the cricoid cartilage with solitary plasmacytoma of the rib.

BACKGROUND

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a rare plasma cell neoplasm of the soft tissues characterized by the presence of a single, discrete lesion without evidence of systemic disease. Extramedullary plasmacytoma may disseminate into multiple myeloma, a systemic plasma cell disease.

METHODS

A rare case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the cricoid cartilage with solitary plasmacytoma of the rib was reviewed.

RESULTS

The patient was found to have two discrete lesions; one of the cricoid cartilage and one of the lateral left fifth rib. Despite the presence of multiple tumors, the patient was not diagnosed with multiple myeloma as the bone marrow appeared normal.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the rarity of these neoplasms and the unusual localization of the extramedullary plasmacytoma tumor, a definitive diagnosis was difficult to make in this case. This case may be instructive for the differential diagnosis of laryngeal lesions.