Plasmacytoma

PLASMACYTOMA (plasmocytoma), synonym plasmoma, a tumor composed of plasma cells. Tumor-like proliferations consisting of plasma cells are essentially not always identical processes; therefore, the term P. may imply diseases of varying character. The most common form is local P., which manifests as a local, often nodular tumor proliferation of plasma cells; such P.'s may originate from the nasal mucosa, larynx, conjunctiva, jaw, pleura, lymph glands of the neck, axilla, and other locations. These local P.'s are not classified as tumors, but represent unique inflammatory-granulomatous proliferations. Multiple P.'s of the lymphatic system, spleen, and liver (case of Maresch and others) many authors consider to be related to lymphogranulomatosis and find for them the more appropriate name 'plasmocellular lymphogranuloma'. Probably also related to lymphogranulomatosis are the cases of Ghon and Roman and others, in which, along with multiple P.'s of the lymph glands, there was an appearance of a large number of plasma cells in the blood, which led the authors to consider such cases as an expression of 'plasmocellular leukemia'. However, Sternberg believes that these multiple plasmacytomas also represent a unique systemic inflammatory reaction, having no relation to lymphogranulomatosis. Multiple plasmacytomas of the bone marrow, also called myeloplasmacytomas, are classified as myelomas.