Fine-needle aspiration of plasma cell disorders: special emphasis on plasma cell subtype

Fine-needle aspiration cytology and clinical presentations of 16 cases of plasma cell dyscrasias (PCD) have been studied in a period of 6 yr. There were seven cases of solitary plasmacytomas of bones, two cases of extramedullary plasmacytomas, and seven cases of multiple myelomas. Differential counts of mature and immature plasma cells along with presence of cell clumps, mitosis, and bi/multinucleations were studied. The cytological findings revealed no correlation with the different subtypes of PCDs; however, it was helpful in the differential diagnosis. Bone marrowing findings, immunological parameters, available histopathology, and X-ray appearances were analysed. Clinical diagnosis of PCDs were made in only three cases. Thus fine-needle aspiration biopsy was considered as an important diagnostic modality in tissue diagnosis of plasma cell tumors, particularly in solitary plasmacytoma of bone and extramedullary plasmacytoma.