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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Primary Culture of Human Vestibular Schwannomas
Published on: July 20, 2014
Schwannoma with monoclonal plasma cell infiltration
Joshua Plaut1, Malcolm Galloway, Anna Childerhouse
1Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. joshuaplaut@googlemail.com
Insights
This study details a rare vestibular schwannoma case with monoclonal plasma cells. This unique finding suggests a potential co-occurrence of plasma cell neoplasm within the tumor.
Area of Science:
- Neuropathology
- Oncology
Background:
- Vestibular schwannomas are benign tumors of the vestibulocochlear nerve.
- Plasma cell neoplasms are a diverse group of disorders characterized by the proliferation of malignant plasma cells.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old woman presented with a presumed vestibular schwannoma.
- Histological examination revealed a lambda light chain restricted plasma cell population within the schwannoma.
Findings:
- Polymerase chain reaction confirmed the monoclonality of the plasma cell population.
- The co-occurrence of a plasma cell neoplasm within a vestibular schwannoma was suggested.
- Systemic plasma cell disease was ruled out through comprehensive investigation.
Implications:
- This represents the first reported instance of a vestibular schwannoma infiltrated by monoclonal plasma cells.
- Highlights the importance of thorough histopathological analysis for rare tumor co-occurrences.
- May prompt further research into the relationship between neural tumors and plasma cell disorders.
Abstract:
The authors report a very rare case of a vestibular schwannoma with an infiltrate of monoclonal plasma cells. A 45-year-old woman underwent routine excision of a presumed vestibular schwannoma. Histological analysis revealed the presence of a distinct lambda light chain restricted plasma cell population within the schwannoma. The light chain restriction and polymerase chain reaction-demonstrated monoclonality of the plasma cell population suggested the co-occurrence of a plasma cell neoplasm within a schwannoma. A search for systemic disease of plasma cell origin was unremarkable. A search of the literature suggests that this is the first report of such an occurrence.
