[Plasmacytoma]

Plasmocytoma is generally a systemic disorder and has to be differentiated from solitary plasmocytoma of bones and connective tissue. Diagnosis is based on the typical bone marrow findings, the demonstration of monoclonal paraprotein and the radiological skeletal changes. Prognosis is poor, life expectancy limited to about 18 months. Specific therapy with cytotoxic drugs leads in many cases to marked improvement of the general condition, relative freedom of pain and a decreased complication rate.