Abstract
Four cases of primary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) admitted to Zhongshan Hospital from 1959 to 1987 are reported with a review on additional 40 cases reported in China. Comparing with the 57 cases of multiple myeloma (MM) treated in our hospital, the following features were observed in PPCL: (1) The age was younger, with a mean of 45.2 years, 34.1% of the patients were under 40 years. (2) Onset was abrupt. Duration from onset to diagnosis was 2 months or less in 77% patients but never beyond 6 months. (3) 81.8% patients had liver enlargement, 59.1% splenomegaly and 61.4% sternum tenderness. (4) All patients showed marked anemia with an average hemoglobin of 65 g/L. BPC count was less than 100×109/L in 76% patients and WBC was more than 10×109/L in 77%. (5) Plasma cell number in the marrow was markedly increased with an average of 69%, of which the blast cells and immature forms were predominant. (6) No destruction of bones was shown on X-ray film in 68.3% patients. (7) The response to chemotherapy was poor with a total response rate of 18% and a mean survival of 2 months. all the above-mentioned clinical features were significantly different from those of MM. In addition, these two diseases were also different in cytology, cytogenetics and ultrastructure. Therefore, PPCL should be considered as a special type of acute leukemia distinct from MM. High dose of alkylating agents in combination with autologous bone marrow transplantation might improve the prognosis.
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Zeji, C., Guozhen, Z. Primary plasma cell leukemia. Chinese Journal of Cancer Research 3, 71–74 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02671298
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02671298