The document discusses plasma cell disorders, focusing on multiple myeloma and Waldenström macroglobulinemia, which are characterized by the proliferation of B-cell clones producing abnormal immunoglobulins. It highlights the clinical features, laboratory findings, diagnostic methods, and prognostic factors associated with these conditions. Multiple myeloma is notably linked to skeletal destruction and widespread organ infiltration, whereas Waldenström is recognized for its hyperviscosity syndrome and affects older adults.

1. PLASMA CELL
DISORDERS
Dr Vijay Shankar S

2. Learning objectives
 Introduction
 Multiple myeloma
 Waldenstorms macroglobulinemia
 Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma

3. PLASMA CELL

4. B lymphocyte
Reactive B lymphocyte
Plasmablast
Proplasmacyte
Plasmacyte/
plasma cell

6.  Proliferation of a B – cell clone that synthesizes
and secretes a single homogeneous
immunoglobulin or its fragments.
 Accounts for 15 % of deaths from white cell
neoplasms
Free light chains
(Bence Jones Proteins)
Free heavy chains
PLASMA CELL DISORDERS

7.  Monoclonal immunoglogulin – M component
 Freely excreted in the urine in the absence of
glomerular damage.
 Disorders associated with abnormal
immunoglobulins – Gammopathy/
Monoclonal gammopathy/
Dysproteinemia/
Paraproteinemia.

8. Clinicopathologic entities associated
with monoclonal gammopathies
1. Multiple myeloma( Plasma cell myeloma)
2. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
3. Heavy – chain disease.
4. Primary or immunocyte associated
Amyloidosis
5. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined
significance (MGUS)

9. MULTIPLE MYELOMA
 Plasma cell neoplasm characterized by
involvement of skeleton at multiple sites.
 Multifocal , monoclonal proliferation of
plasma cells
 1% of all cancer deaths.
 more frequent in elderly
 modest male predominance
 Osseous and extraosseus manifestations

10.  Proliferation of a plasma cell clone that
synthesizes and secretes a single homogeneous
immunoglobulin or its fragments.
Free light chains
(Bence Jones Proteins)
Free heavy chains

11. MORPHOLOGY
 Presents most commonly as multifocal
destructive bone tumors.
 Bones in axial skeleton affected most.
 Most common in vertebral column.

12. DISTRIBUTION
 Vertebral
column-66%
 Ribs - 44%
 Skull - 41%
 Pelvis – 28%
 Femur – 24%
 Clavicle -10%
 Scapula –10%

13. Round lesions filled with a soft reddish material are
indicative of foci of myeloma in this section of vertebral bone.

14. The skull demonstrates the characteristic rounded
"punched out" lesions of multiple myeloma.

15. The rounded
"punched
out" lesions
of multiple
myeloma
appear as
lucent areas
with this skull
radiograph.

16. Lytic lesion in
Tibia
Lesions in the
lower end of femur
Lesion in the
upper end of femur

17. Bone marrow aspirate

18. ↑↑ no of Plasma cells, usually more than 30% of marrow cellularity

19. BONE MARROW
At low power, the abnormal plasma cells of
multiple myeloma fill the marrow.

20. BONE MARROW
At medium power, the plasma cells of multiple myeloma
here are very similar to normal plasma cells, but they
may also be poorly differentiated.

21. Flame cells

22. Crystalline inclusionsMott cell

23. Russel bodies
Dutcher bodies

24. Pathologic rouleaux formation, Multiple myeloma

26. William Russell
Scottish pathologist and physician
(1852 – 1940)

27. CLINICAL FEATURES
Manifestations are due to
1. Infiltration of organs by neoplastic plasma cells
2. Production of excessive immunoglobulins with
abnormal physiochemical properties.
3. Suppression of normal Humoral immunity

28. CLINICAL FEATURES
 Bone pain,
pathological fractures,
hypercalcemia
 Recurrent Bacterial infections
 Renal failure
 Anemia
 Hyperviscosity syndrome
 Extensive skeletal destruction by
neoplastic plasma cells
 Depressed normal immunoglobulin
production due to displacement by
neoplastic clone.
 Tubular damage due to light chain
proteinuria.
 Marrow replacement & renal
damage with resultant loss of
erythropoietin.
 Excessive production and
aggregation of M proteins

29. LABORATORY STUDIES
Increased levels of immunoglobulins in the blood
and /or
light chains ( Bence Jones proteins) in urine
in 99% of cases

33.  Most common serum monoclonal
immunoglobulin ( M protein) – IgG (55%)
IgA (25%)
IgM, IgD, or IgE - Rare
 Both Bence Jones Proteins
& serum M protein : 60 – 70%
 Only Bence Jones proteins : 20%
 Nonsecretory : 1%

34. DIAGNOSIS & PROGNOSIS
 Radiographic & laboratory findings
 Definitive diagnosis – Bone marrow study
 PROGNOSIS - Variable , but generally poor

35. "The gem cannot be polished without
friction, nor man perfected without
trials or problems or exams…!."
--Chinese proverb

36. 1944
Two patients with oronasal bleeding,
lymphadenopathy, anemia and
thrombocytopenia, an elevated ESR, a high
serum viscosity level, normal bone
radiographs and a bone marrow
demonstrating predominately lymphoid cells.

37. Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia
Dr. Jan Gosta Waldenstrom(Swedish internist) (1906-1996),
in 1944

38. 2003
 2nd International Workshop on WM, which was
held in Athens, Greece
 clinicopathological entity that was represented
by the underlying pathological diagnosis of
lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, as defined by
the WHO and REAL classification systems
which secretes IgM

39. LYMPHOPLASMACYTIC
LYMPHOMA
(SLL/CLL with plasmacytic differentiation., Immunocytoma)
 B - cell neoplasm of older adults.
 6th or 7th decades of life
 Resemble CLL/SLL .. But.. Good no of
tumor cells undergo terminal differentiation
into plasma cells.
Secrete monoclonal IgM
Hyperviscosity syndrome(W M)
Heavy & light chain
synthesis is usually
balanced

40. MORPHOLOGY
 Bone marrow :heavy infiltrates of lymphocytes,
plasma cells and plasmacytoid lymphocytes.
 Russel bodies and Dutcher bodies may be
present.
 Often involves lymph nodes, liver & spleen.
 Infiltration of nerve roots, meninges & brain
may be seen.

42. IMMUNOPHENOTYPE & MOLECULAR GENETICS
 B – cell marker – CD20
 Plasma cell - expresses monoclonal
immunoglobulin.
 MC cytogenetic abnormality – del 6q

43. CLINICAL FEATURES
 Non- specific : weakness, fatigue, weight loss.
 Hyperviscosity syndrome:
Visual impairment
Neurologic problems: headache ,
dizziness, deafness etc
Bleeding tendencies
Anemia

44.  Rests on Laboratory data & bone marrow study.
↑↑ Serum proteins
↑↑ Serum monoclonal M component( due to IgM)
↑↑ ESR
Normocytic hypochromic anemia
Characteristic marrow infiltration
DIAGNOSIS

45. PROGNOSIS
 Incurable progressive disease.
 Plasmapherisis might help
 Median survival - 4 yrs.

46. “Ninety-nine percent of failures
come from people who have a habit
of making excuses.”
–George Washington Carver

47. THE END