Plasmablastic Multiple Myeloma Masquerading Leukemia in an Immunocompetent Patient

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell neoplasm accounting for 1% of all malignancies. It is characterized by a monoclonal malignant proliferation of plasma cells accompanied by an increase in M-protein. Plasmablastic myeloma represents 5-15% of the cases of multiple myeloma. This morphology of a MM is an independent predictor of poor survival. Plasmablastic myeloma tends to have worse outcomes than other plasma cell dyscrasias. The median survival of these patients is around 1.9 years. Much of our knowledge on plasmablastic variant of MM is dependent on case reports and case series. Hence, an early identification of this aggressive variant of multiple myeloma and its differentiation from hematological malignancy like plasmablastic lymphoma is necessary for optimal patient management.