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Case report
Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the larynx: a rare cause of dysphonia
  1. Hannes Hermann Brandt,
  2. Steffi Johanna Brockmeier and
  3. Nora Tetter
  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Kantonsspital Aarau AG, Aarau, Switzerland
  1. Correspondence to Dr Nora Tetter; nora.tetter{at}ksa.ch

Abstract

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma (SEP) of the larynx is a rare haematological malignancy and an infrequent cause of persisting dysphonia. We present the case of a 54-year-old woman with a long-standing history of dysphonia. While clinical examination showed a rather inconspicuous prominent right vestibular fold, an MRI revealed a laryngeal mass with erosion of the thyroid cartilage. A biopsy taken during rigid endoscopy demonstrated plasma cell infiltration with light chain restriction amidst amyloid deposits. After exclusion of systemic involvement, the diagnosis of an SEP of the larynx with secondary amyloidosis was made. The patient received primary radiation therapy. Another biopsy taken 3 months after the end of therapy did not show any signs of ongoing neoplastic plasma cell disease. The patient was therefore considered to be in remission. She is currently receiving regular follow-up and has not shown signs of persistent or progressive disease for the past 18 months.

  • ear, nose and throat/otolaryngology
  • haematology (incl blood transfusion)
  • radiotherapy

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Footnotes

  • Contributors SJB made initial contact in her phoniatric clinic and signed patient up for further testing. NT performed first operation and initiated therapy. HHB performed second operation and wrote first draft of case report. It was then thoroughly reviewed by NT and SJB.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.