Extramedullary Plasmacytoma Presenting as a Rapidly Growing Lateral Neck Mass: A Case Report

This case report details the rare clinical presentation of an extramedullary plasmacytoma presenting as a rapidly growing lateral neck mass. A 53-year-old male presented to the emergency room after a one month history of increasing left sided neck pain and enlarging lateral neck mass. Advanced imagining indicated a large left-sided soft tissue mass approximately 4 cm × 3 cm × 7 cm in dimension extending from the level of C4 vertebrae superiorly to the base of the skull. There was considerable osteolytic destruction of the clivus, the medial aspect of the mastoid process, the occiput, and the C1 and C2 vertebrae. The mass extended partially to involve the left side of the spinal canal. Neurosurgery team was consulted for surgical intervention. The patient was scheduled for occipital-cervical fusion and soft tissue biopsy. Pathology results confirmed plasmacytoma. Patient was referred to oncology for radiation therapy followed by chemotherapy.

This is the unusual presentation of an extramedullary plasmacytoma of the cervical spine that responded well to surgical stabilization followed by radiation and chemotherapy at most recent postoperative follow-up of 18 months.

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
12 February 2021