Plasmocytoma of the Skull Vault

Abstract

AIM: Plasma cell tumours include solitary plasmocytoma, multiple plasmocytoma and multiple myeloma. Herein we report a case of plasmocytoma of the skull. CASE HISTORY: A 49 year-old-man suffered from amnesia, irritability and a rubbery swelling which was gradually increased approximately to 4-5 cm in diameter at the frontal vertex over a year. His neurological examination was normal. The skull direct X-ray revealed patchy destruction of the left frontal bone 10 cm in diameter. CT with bone windows showed relatively preserved but severely thinned inner table and irregularly destructed outer table. MR scan showed a hypervascular, mainly solid mass measuring 9x5.5x8.5 cms. Radical surgery consisting of total tumour extirpation was undertaken. Histopathological examination confirmed a plasmocytic proliferation. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was discharged on the 6th day postoperatively. Bone marrow sampling was scheduled to rule out multiple myeloma, but the patient committed suicide a week later for reasons not known to us. CONCLUSION: Although the prognosis of a plasmocytoma is relatively good, this study demonstrated that patients with ventral frontal cortex tumour may have significantly worse mood pre- or postoperatively. Clinicians should therefore be careful in the follow-up period.