[RoseS]

Lung plasmacytoma - is it early multiple myeloma?

by RoseS on Sat Jul 15, 2017 3:06 pm

I have been reading some of the posts here regarding myeloma. I was recently told I had a plasmacytoma, referred to as myeloma. I initially had a GI issue which required a CT scan which showed pulmonary nodules in both lungs. After several more CT scans and a PET scan, it was determined I should have a bronchial lung biopsy. The doctors were expecting something related to an autoimmune disease since I also have lupus.

The biopsy came back with either plasma cell neoplasm, lymphoma, or marginal zone lym­phoma, with all the biopsy info pointing to the plasma cell neoplasm. My oncologist did all the myeloma blood panels and a bone marrow biopsy as well as a 24-hour urine. Everyone of those additional tests came back completely normal, with a slight elevation in the kappa light chain, but not much. My CBC and CMP blood tests have been normal as well. I also feel pretty good, except for the fatigue I normally experience with my lupus. I have had some neuropathy in my feet, but figured that was from my prednisone for the lupus.

I am very familiar with multiple myeloma as my husband was diagnosed with it 10 years ago. He is 10 years post autologous stem cell transplant and doing well. So I am very optimistic that with treatment things can be OK. However, the uncertainty about the diagnosis right now concerns me.

I am being told it may be treated as a solitary plasmacytoma, possible by cyberknife. But there is still uncertainty if it is indeed a solitary plasmacytoma or multiple myeloma. I am having an MRI tomorrow to check for bone involvement.

Its pretty much like I have no myeloma indicators except for the lung biopsy. Can this be early, early stage myeloma?

[Little Monkey]

Re: Lung plasmacytoma - is it early multiple myeloma?

by Little Monkey on Sat Jul 15, 2017 8:42 pm

A pulmonary (lung) plasmacytoma can, but not always, become stage one myeloma as it is a plasma cell dyscrasia.

Pulmonary plasmacytoma are fairly rare. Here Is a study on pulmonary plasmacytoma I've read recently; it's a few years old and it was published in English in the Korean Journal of Internal Medicine

Keep in mind that all the patients in the study responded to treatment.

http://kjim.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.3904/kjim.2012.27.1.111

I've have been doing some reading on pulmonary plasmacytomas lately, as the ground glass lesion in my dad's lung has grown a small amount according to a recent CAT scan. My dad has stage one ogliosectory light-chain myeloma, which started off as a solitary plasmacytoma in the spine area. My dad will see the lung doctor this week.

[RoseS]

Re: Lung plasmacytoma - is it early multiple myeloma?

by RoseS on Sun Jul 16, 2017 3:45 pm

Oh my goodness, thank you so very much. I am printing this because there are similarities to what I have been told. My doctor told me I am not a textbook case and it sure sounds like he is right. I find the link you sent me extremely helpful. I also find it interesting regarding the lupus involved. I see the pulmonologist tomorrow, rheumatologist and oncologist on Tuesday. I also have access to my husband's stem cell doctor and myeloma specialist. I feel that this will be sorted out.

What makes this difficult is that I do not feel sick. I pretty much feel like my own self except more tired. But the lupus makes me tired anyway, so it's hard for me to connect the two.

Good luck to your father with his journey. I remember 10 years ago when my husband was diagnosed, there were limited options for treatment. In the last 10 years, I cannot believe how much more in treatment options there is to choose from.