Plasma cell leukemia--a study of 28 cases from India

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare neoplasm that has not been comprehensively reported in an Indian population. We report the clinico-pathological features of 28 cases studied during 1999-2008. Organomegaly and bleeding tendency was common in primary PCL but not in secondary. Misdiagnosis as acute leukemia or the leukemic phase of lymphoma on the initial peripheral blood smear examination was frequent (31.4% cases) in the primary form of PCL. This is best addressed by an emphasis on the morphological appearances and confirmation by simple serum electrophoresis rather than by more sophisticated testing that may not be widely available. Response to treatment is poor and PCL has a poor prognosis, a situation that may be amenable to improvement by a better understanding of the biology of the disease.