Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is it?
Solitary bone plasmacytoma is a bone tumor that arises from abnormal plasma cells (blood cells) in the bone marrow. It can occur in any bone, but they are most common in the spine. Plasmacytoma is a rare disorder, more common in men than women. It usually occurs in individuals in the fourth to sixth decades of life.
Symptoms
As a result of destroying healthy bone, spinal plasmacytomas may cause dull and aching pain. If a vertebra is heavily weakened by the plasmacytoma, a compression fracture may occur. Spinal plasmacytomas may cause different symptoms that vary depending on the tumor’s size and location. As they grow, spinal plasmacytomas usually compress nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord. Compression of nerve roots may cause pain that radiates to the arms or legs. Spinal cord compression may cause pain, weakness, numbness, or clumsiness both in the arms and legs. In some cases, spinal cord compression may result in a loss of bowel or bladder control.
Diagnosis
A solitary plasmacytoma is diagnosed with the following tests: X-ray, CT scan, MRI scan, and skeletal PET (positron emission tomography). Other procedures can also be helpful with diagnoses. Bone marrow biopsies can help establish that only a single tumor is present.
Treatment
Most patients with spinal plasmacytoma can be effectively treated with radiation or chemotherapy. In some patients urgent surgery may be needed for spinal cord decompression. In this type of surgery, the spinal cord is relieved of the devastating pressure placed on it by the plasmacytoma. Decompression surgery will usually stop the damage to the spinal cord. Symptoms will not worsen, and may improve. After decompression surgery, an instrumented fusion may be necessary to restore spinal stability.