Solitary plasmacytoma in a patient presenting with taste disturbance

Abstract

Solitary plasmacytoma is a disease included in plasma cell dyscrasias, presenting outside of the bone marrow, and with the potential to turn into multiple myeloma. A 66-year male patient was admitted to the hematology clinic with the complaint of impaired taste. Physical examination revealed edema of the left pharynx. After excisional tissue biopsy, serum/urine protein electrophoresis, and immunofixation tests of the patient diagnosed with plasmacytoma were negative. An increase in atypical plasma cells was noted on bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. There was no systemic involvement outside the pharynx on the PET-CT examination. He was referred to the radiotherapy department for further management. Since the affected area is frequently the nasopharynx, sinuses, and larynx in extramedullary solitary plasmacytoma cases, they generally presented to the clinic with difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath and pain symptoms. This case presented with a non-specific complaint of taste disturbance along with difficulty in swallowing.