Extramedullary plasmacytoma of paranasal sinuses. A combined therapeutic strategy.

Abstract

Extramedullary plasmacytoma of the head and neck region is a rare malignant tumour comprising approximately 3% of all plasma cell tumours. Approximately 80-90% of extramedullary plasmacytomas involve the Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue of the upper airways, 75% of these involve the nasal and paranasal regions. Radiotherapy is considered the treatment of choice, surgery being limited to biopsy and to excision of residual disease. A case of extramedullary plasmacytoma of the nasal cavity and ethmoid sinus is reported, in which surgical excision is followed by complementary radiotherapy on the site of the tumour.