Plasma cell leukemia: a retrospective study of 10 cases.

BACKGROUND

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare aggressive variant of multiple myeloma (MM) characterized by a fulminant course and poor prognosis. Flow cytometry (FCM) is very useful in the diagnosis of the plasma cell leukemia. Herein, we present 10 cases of PCL.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We retrospectively studied immunophenotypic profile of 10 cases of PCL from Jan 2009 to Dec 2013 using 5 parameters, 6 color flow cytometric analysis. We also studied their clinical presentation and other laboratory findings.

RESULTS

Common clinical features at presentation were weakness, bone pain, anemia, thrombocytopenia and osteolytic lesions. Plasma cell population were identified by strong expression of CD38 and co-expression of CD38 and CD138. CD56 was expressed in 20% cases. CD19 and CD117 were negative in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunophenotyping is highly useful to differentiate PCL from other chronic lymphoproliferative disorders with plasmacytoid morphology as well as from non-neoplastic reactive plasma cells. Co-expression of CD38 and CD138 is a best combination to identify the plasma cells by using FCM.