Head and Neck Solitary Extramedullary Plasmacytoma

Abstract

Introduction. This study aimed to report the characteristics and treatment outcome of 13 patients with solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas of the head and neck and analytical literature review. Materials and Methods. Nine patients (69%) were treated with gross surgical resection followed by radiotherapy, three (23%) were primarily treated with radiotherapy alone, and one (8%) was treated with surgery alone. Results. There were 3 women and 10 men with the median age of 52 years. Nasal cavity (46%) and paranasal sinuses (23%) were the most common primary sites. After a median follow-up of 28 months, 10 patients are alive and free of disease, one is alive with multiple myeloma, and two died of multiple myeloma. In the literature review the median age was 58 years and male/female ratio was 2.7. Sinonasal tract was the most common primary site. Ten-year local control and progression to multiple myeloma rates were 88% and 23%, respectively. The 5- and the 10-year overall survival rates were 71 and 69%, respectively. Conclusion. Radiation therapy with or without surgery is an effective treatment for patients with head and neck extramedullary plasmacytoma. However, long-term follow-up for detection of local recurrence and progression to multiple myeloma is essential.