Plasma cell leukemia: a retrospective study of 10 cases.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare aggressive variant of multiple myeloma (MM) characterized by a fulminant course and poor prognosis. Flow cytometry (FCM) is very useful in the diagnosis of the plasma cell leukemia. Herein, we present 10 cases of PCL. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied immunophenotypic profile of 10 cases of PCL from Jan 2009 to Dec 2013 using 5 parameters, 6 color flow cytometric analysis. We also studied their clinical presentation and other laboratory findings. RESULTS: Common clinical features at presentation were weakness, bone pain, anemia, thrombocytopenia and osteolytic lesions. Plasma cell population were identified by strong expression of CD38 and co-expression of CD38 and CD138. CD56 was expressed in 20% cases. CD19 and CD117 were negative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Immunophenotyping is highly useful to differentiate PCL from other chronic lymphoproliferative disorders with plasmacytoid morphology as well as from non-neoplastic reactive plasma cells. Co-expression of CD38 and CD138 is a best combination to identify the plasma cells by using FCM.