Definition - What does plasmacytoma mean?
Plasmacytoma is a rare cancer that begins with the mutated growth of a plasma cell. Plasma cells are antibody producing cells found in the bone marrow. A single plasmacytoma can spread from the bone marrow to the outer surface of the bone and into other bones in the body. If several plasmacytoma of the bone develop, the condition is called multiple myeloma. Plasmacytomas may also originate in the soft tissue of the body, most often in the upper respiratory tract.
SureHire explains plasmacytoma
When a single plasma cell mutates inside a bone, it is called solitary plasmacytoma of bone (SPB). Plasmacytomas developing in the body's soft tissue are called extramedullary plasmacytoma (EP). Solitary or isolated plasmacytoma can cause affected bones to become brittle and subject to breakage. The tumor can also crowd out healthy plasma cells resulting in low blood counts and related illnesses. When plasmacytomas affect the soft tissue of the body, the developing tumors put pressure on healthy tissue causing pain and other complications.
Plasmacytoma tumors are radiosensitive and radiotherapy is the main treatment for plasmacytoma. For extramedullary plasmacytoma, surgery is sometimes used to remove the tumors.
