PLASMACYTOMA OF THE NOSE AND PARANASAL SINUSES

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas (SEP, solitary extraosseous plasmacytoma) are rare malignant tumours, arising from a single clone of plasma cells, usually involving the upper respiratory tract. They arise outside of the bone marrow, without any features of multiple myeloma. Ten percent of SEP could be found to have multiple myeloma on further evaluation. We have discussed here three rare cases of plasmacytoma of the nasal cavity, each with a varied presentation, which were managed by our department in the past 1 year. We would like to highlight the spectrum of clinical presentations of a rare tumor like nasal plasmacytoma, and we describe three different management strategies, tailored to fit the individual requirements of each patient. Although radiotherapy is the accepted modality of treatment for SEP, young patients with resectable tumors should be offered the benefit of surgery alone, with a close follow up. If the disease shows signs of conversion to multiple myeloma at any stage, the patient requires chemotherapy.