Dural plasmacytoma

Dural plasmacytoma is an unusual form of myeloma. We describe a woman with plasmacytoma of the tentorium cerebelli that was managed successfully with surgical decompression and radiotherapy. Computed tomography, not previously reported in cases of dural plasmacytoma, was useful in her management. Another unique feature was the restoration of a normal immunoglobulin G content in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid after local treatment of the neoplasm. Two previously reported cases showed similar normalization of cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulin G after local radiotherapy. Dural plasmacytoma presents a characteristic clinical syndrome. The typical patient is a woman (92% of the reported cases) in the 5th decade of life. Clinical findings reflect intracranial hypertension, often with focal neurological signs, consistent with the usual dural or tentorial origin of the tumor. Immunoglobulin abnormalities may be found in serum or cerebrospinal fluid. The prognosis is good after surgical decompression and local radiotherapy.