Korean J Hematol.  2005 Sep;40(3):188-191. 10.5045/kjh.2005.40.3.188.

A Case of Extramedullary Progression Despite of Serologic Improvement in a Patient Treated with Thalidomide for Multiple Myeloma

• Yuh YJ
• Kim HS
• Park YJ
• Um HS
• Choi SB
• Lee BS
• Kim SR
• Han TH

• KMID: 1610814
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5045/kjh.2005.40.3.188

Abstract

Thalidomide is an anti-angiogenic agent widely used in patients with multiple myeloma. The response to therapy is commonly monitored using serum and/or urine M protein, as these are known to reflect the tumor burden. Although extramedullary plasmacytomas are tissues with high neovascularization, it has been suggested in some reports that the response to thalidomide in these patients may be inferior, despite changes in the serum M protein level. Herein, we report the case of a patient who newly developed hepatosplenic extramedullary plasmacytoma, despite reduction in the serum M protein level following thalidomide treatment.

Keyword

Thalidomide; Multiple myeloma; Extramedullary plasmacytoma

MeSH Terms

Humans
Multiple Myeloma*
Plasmacytoma
Thalidomide*
Tumor Burden
Thalidomide

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Abdominal CT. There is a hepatosplenomegaly. The length of spleen is 20cm. There were multiple lymph nodes enlargement (from several mm to 5cm in diameter) in the porta hepatis and common hepatic portocaval area.

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  Fig. 2. Bone marrow biopsy specimen. (A) H&E stain × 1,000, (B) CD38 stain × 1,000, (C) Kappa stain × 1,000, (D) lambda stain × 1,000.

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