Abstract
Background
Extramedullary plasmacytoma is an uncommon type of plasma cell neoplasm that occurs
outside of the bone marrow. Very rarely, extramedullary plasmacytomas can involve
the trachea, causing significant respiratory distress.
Case Report
We describe a patient with a history of multiple myeloma who presented with voice
hoarseness and dyspnea and was found to have airway obstruction due to an extramedullary
plasmacytoma near the larynx.
Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?
It is important to investigate the possibility of upper airway obstruction in cancer
patients presenting with hoarseness and dyspnea to prevent incorrect management, which
can lead to fatal results. In particular, wheezing and dyspnea in patients with a
history of asthma may not always be due to asthma exacerbation. Computed tomography
scans and emergency laryngoscopy have been shown to be useful in aiding with correct
diagnosis of upper airway obstruction, ensuring appropriate treatment.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Emergency MedicineAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- An unusual cause of dyspnea: myelomatous involvement of cricoid cartilage. A case report.Neuroradiol J. 2008; 21: 584-586
- Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the trachea.Head Neck Pathol. 2014; 8: 220-224
- A case report of tracheal extramedullary plasmacytoma.Chin J Clin Oncol. 2008; 5: 311-312
- Daratumumab plus pomalidomide and dexamethasone in relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma.Blood. 2017; 130: 974-981
- Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the cricoid cartilage with solitary plasmacytoma of the rib.Am J Otolaryngol. 2015; 36: 598-600
- Multiple myeloma of the thyroid cartilage.Case Rep Hematol. 2012; 2012: 194797
- Extramedullary relapse of multiple myeloma in the thyroid cartilage.BMJ Case Rep. 2013; 2013 (bcr2013200689)
- Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the trachea: a case report and review of the literature.Medicine (Baltimore). 2018; 97: e9594
- Multiple myeloma: a clinical overview.Oncology (Williston Park). 2011; 25: 3-9
- A review of the venous thrombotic issues associated with multiple myeloma.Expert Rev Hematol. 2016; 9: 695-706
- Head and neck infection and inflammation.Radiol Clin North Am. 2011; 49: 165-182
- Diagnostic imaging of the upper airway.Proc Am Thorac Soc. 2011; 8: 40-45
- Update on multidetector computed tomography imaging of the airways.J Thorac Imaging. 2010; 25: 112-124
- Imaging of tumors of the trachea and central bronchi.Radiol Clin North Am. 2009; 47: 227-241
- Primary tumors of the trachea: clinicopathologic features and surgical results.Chest. 1982; 81: 701-706
- Plasmacytoma of the larynx.Laryngoscope. 1983; 93: 741-744
- Multiple myeloma of the cricoid cartilage.J Otolaryngol. 1998; 27: 168-170
- Multiple myeloma involving the cricoid cartilage.Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005; 133: 643
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 29, 2019
Accepted:
May 6,
2019
Received in revised form:
March 28,
2019
Received:
February 14,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
