Intracranial involvement by plasma cell neoplasms

Abstract

Objectives: Intracranial plasma cell neoplasms (PCNs) arising from the skull, dura, or brain parenchyma are rare tumors and there is only a limited experience in the literature with these lesions. Methods: We performed a retrospective clinicopathologic study of fourteen cases of intracranial PCN at our institution encountered over a 26-year-period. Results: The fourteen patients ranged in age from 30-74 years (median 66 years) and included seven males. For eight patients, their intracranial lesions were the initial presentation of multiple myeloma (MM). Three patients had prior history of MM; their intracranial tumors showed blastic plasma cell morphology, and all three died secondary to MM. The remaining three patients did not or have not developed MM. Conclusions: PCNs rarely arise in the intracranial compartment. Intracranial PCN may be the initial presentation of MM. Anecdotally, blastic morphology appears to manifest more aggressive behavior.