Case Report, Clin Oncol Case Rep Vol: 5 Issue: 5

Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib and Dexamethasone (CyBordD) for Multiple Extramedullary Plasmacytomas and Bilateral Myelomatous Pleural Effusion

Leilei Teng, Jennifer R Hewlett, and Khalil I Hussein

Department of Medicine, Greenwich Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System, Greenwich, CT, United States

*Corresponding Author: Khalil I Hussein
Department of Medicine, Greenwich Hospital, Yale New Haven Health System, 5 Perryridge Road, Medical Education, Greenwich, CT 06830, United States
E-mail: Khalil.Hussein@ynhh.org

Received: January 15, 2022; Manuscript No: COCR-22-51853;
Editor Assigned: January 19, 2022; PreQC Id: COCR-22-51853 (PQ);
Reviewed: March 12, 2022; QC No: COCR-22-51853 (Q);
Revised: March 18, 2022; Manuscript No: COCR- 22-51853 (R);
Published: May 05, 2022; DOI: 10.4172/cocr.5(5).233

Citation: Teng L, Hewlett JR, Hussein KI (2022) Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib and Dexamethasone (CyBordD) for Multiple Extramedullary Plasmacytomas and Bilateral Myelomatous Pleural Effusion. Clin Oncol Case Rep 5:5

Abstract

Keywords: Multiple myeloma; Extramedullary plasmacytomas; Myelomatous pleural effusion; PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome

Introduction

Multiple Myeloma (MM) arises from the malignant transformation of plasma cells. As the plasma cells infiltrate into bone marrow and skeleton, anemia, bone pain, renal insufficiency from light chain deposition, and hypercalcemia often result. Although the proliferation of neoplastic plasma cells is highly dependent on the bone marrow microenvironment, extramedullary involvement can occur in advanced stages of MM in the form of plasma cell leukemia or soft tissue Extramedullary Plasmacytomas (EMP). However, soft tissue EMP presenting as the initial manifestation of MM is very uncommon. The incidence of Extramedullary Plasmacytomas (EMP) at the time of MM diagnosis is between 3%-5% and may indicate a more advanced disease at diagnosis and stromal-independent transition [1,2]. EMP usually develops from either local extension of skeletal masses with thoracic wall as the most common affected region, or hematogenous spread with multiple subcutaneous nodules as the most frequently involved sites [3]. Both mechanisms are demonstrated in our case.

Pleural effusion is not rare in MM, and the reported incidence ranges from 11% to 42.7% [4-6]. Myelomatous Pleural Effusion (MPE), however, is a very uncommon cause of pleural effusion in MM with incidence of only 0.8% to 2.65% [7-10]. MPE is due to plasma cell infiltration of the pleura and tends to occur later in the disease course, but in rare cases including ours, MPE can be the presenting manifestation of MM. The pleural involvement can be the result of direct extension or invasion of a nearby lesion, or rarely, primary pleural plasmacytoma [11].

We describe a very atypical presentation featuring both MPE and multiple EMP at the time of diagnosis. A large chest wall lesion was the most likely cause of the MPE, which had to be differentiated from more common and benign etiologies of pleural effusion in MM such as heart failure, renal failure, or concurrent infection. While the concurrence of both EMP and MPE at diagnosis provided mutual corroboration for a more advanced disease stage of MM, the rarity of the combination clouded the initial clinical presentation and prolonged the diagnostic workup, which we highlight in this report. MPE and EMP individually confer poor prognosis, and the combination portended even worse outcome. However, our case suggests the potential for favorable outcomes in response to Cyclophosphamide, Bortezomib and Dexamethasone (CyBorD). As part of our literature review, we collected 18 previously reported cases with our case as the 19th case of both MPE and multiple EMP, and we discuss lessons to be learned [12-15].

Case Report

An 81-year-old woman with prior history of surgery to remove symptomatic left cavernous hemangioma 15 years ago in Guatemala complicated by residual dysphasia presented with productive cough and dyspnea on exertion of 4 weeks duration. Initial vital signs were: temperature 97.2°F, heart rate 98 beats per minute, blood pressure 168/76 mmHg, respiratory rate 20 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation 92% on room air. Physical exam found multiple soft, subcutaneous, and mobile lumps on bilateral upper extremities (Figure 1). Chest auscultation demonstrated bibasilar rales, bilateral end expiratory wheezing, and significantly decreased breath sounds over right lower lung field. Labs revealed serum protein 7.7 g/dL, albumin 3.2 g/dL, Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) 152 U/L, corrected calcium 9.9 mg/dL, and negative respiratory virus Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Complete blood cell count with differential, creatinine, liver function tests, lactic acid, troponin I, procalcitonin, pro-BNP, blood cultures, and electrocardiogram were unremarkable. Chest x-ray was notable for cardiomegaly, edema, and bilateral pleural pulmonary effusions.

Computed Tomography (CT) of the chest with Intravenous (IV) contrast additionally identified a large mantle of soft tissue surrounding the distal thoracic aorta measuring 8.0 cm × 7.4 cm × 8.5 cm (Figure 2A) that also involved the T10 vertebral body. Also identified was a mass involving the anterior right chest wall measuring 4.5 cm × 2.5 cm × 4.6 cm (Figure 2B). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain found non-specific enhancing lesions in the right parietal calvarium. Full-spine MRI found T4 and T10 body enhancement with right epidural extension, abnormal bone marrow signal throughout the spine, and vertebral hemangiomas. Transthoracic echocardiogram was unremarkable.

Thoracentesis drained 1200 mL of serosanguinous fluid with pleural protein 4.9 g/dL, glucose 105 mg/dL, LDH 132 /L, and amylase 23 U/L, consistent with an exudative effusion. Pleural fluid cultures returned negative. Cytology of the fluid was consistent with plasmacytoid/plasmacytic neoplasm andflow cytometry found involvement by an abnormal lymphoplasmacytic population consistent with surface lambda light chain-restriction. In situ hybridization testing of pleural fluid for Human gammaherpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) returned negative, which excluded primary effusion lymphoma.

Biopsy of right chest wall mass showed plasma cell neoplasm, and protein and immunoelectrophoresis showed lambda light chainrestricted and positive IgA lambda light chain gammopathy. Serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) found abnormal band measuring 1.3 g/dL present in the beta region which was further characterized as IgA lambda on concurrent serum immunofixation electrophoresis. Bone Marrow (BM) biopsy and flow cytometry from BM aspirate were unremarkable.

The patient was started on induction chemotherapy with CyBorD. After 12 days, repeat Positron Emission Tomography (PET)- CT showed excellent response in the posterior mediastinal mass (Figure 3A) and right anterior chest wall mass (Figure 3B) no longer noted (Figure 4), no activity in thoracic spine, and decreased bone activity. One week later, she decompensated due to aspiration pneumonia and septic shock, and she expired.

Literature review

We performed a literature search in PubMed using search criteria [(Multiple Myeloma) and (pleural effusions) and (extramedullary)], which resulted in 41 publications [16-18]. We selected 10 cases consistent with concurrent EMP and MPE by reading the abstracts. We then performed a broader search by the criteria of [(Myelomatous pleural effusion) and (extramedullary plasmacytoma)], which resulted in 19 articles [19]. We then selected additional 7 cases by comparing with the prior list of 10 and excluding the overlap cases. One more case was found by reading the review articles regarding extramedullary disease in Multiple Myeloma in the past 20 years. We included a total of 19 reports of MPE and multiple EMP, 18 from our literature review plus our case (Table 1).

Table 1: Summary of case reports.

Discussion

Clinical characteristics

Multiple Myeloma (MM) is typically confined to the bone marrow and skeleton. EMP is an uncommon initial manifestation of MM, while MPE is an even rarer form of extramedullary disease. A decade ago, the incidence of EMP was reported to range from 7%-18% in newly diagnosed MM and 6%-20% later in the disease course [20]. Although our screening and diagnostic means have become more widely available, the incidence has not increased. The most recently observed incidence was reported as 3%-5% at time of initial MM diagnosis [21-25]. In a recent observational retrospective study [26], incidence of MPE at relapse of MM was found to be more common than at initial clinical presentation. In our literature review, concurrent soft tissue EMP and MPE at the initial diagnosis of MM were found in only 7 out of 19 cases while the remaining 12 cases developed concurrent presentation of those disease manifestations at relapse.

The majority of EMPs (68%-85%) observed at diagnosis were soft-tissue masses adjacent to bone lesions [3]. In the 19 cases we reviewed, chest wall masses (7 out of 19) were the most common, and paravertebral involvement (4 out of 19) is the second common sites of EMPs. This also suggests that local growth from focal bone lesions remains the most likely mechanism of EMPs. In our case, a large EMP surrounding the distal thoracic aorta had involved the nearby vertebral body, and the epidural lesions appeared to be extraosseous in origin. Extraosseous myeloma is a rare cause of spinal cord compression; most spinal cord compression in MM is related to pathological fracture of the involved vertebral body or extension of a vertebral body myeloma lesion [27]. In prior analysis of EMPs with invasion of the spinal canal, most patients (19 out of 36) were observed to have thoracic spinal cord involvement, similar to our case [28].

Prior studies have suggested that direct plasma cell infiltration of the pleura is the mechanism of MPE development, and patients with adjacent chest wall or pulmonary lesions more commonly develop MPE. Of the cases of MPE we reviewed, the majority (78.9%, 15/19) followed this pattern: chest wall (7/19), mediastinal (3/19), pleural thickening (2/19), para-tracheal (1/19), and pericardial (1/19). Like pleural effusions from other etiologies, our review suggested MPEs have a right-sided preponderance in the setting of concurrent soft tissues EMPs. The number in our selected cases are 11 on the right side, 5 bilateral, and 4 on the left side. This is consistent with one prior observational study [26], but differed from another study reporting left side more commonly involved than right [7]. The reason for this tendency remains unclear.

Although MPE has been reported to be associated with IgG kappa [26] or IgA subtype [7], we have not seen very concentrated distribution in subtypes, with 6 IgG kappa and 6 IgA (1 lambda, 5 kappa) in the 19 cases.

Diagnosis and differentials

EMPs can be found at diagnosis or at relapse of MM with screening by imaging modalities like PET-CT and MRI. Serum Protein Electrophoresis (SPEP) with immunofixation and quantitation of immunoglobulins and serum light chains can also be helpful. The key part of diagnosis is to confirm the presence of malignant plasma cells based on both cytology and immunohistochemistry in the biopsy of EMPs tissues. Thoracentesis followed by pleural fluid studies are essential to diagnose suspected MPE.

In a recent retrospective study of MM patients with pleural effusions, MPE was found in as high as 38.2% of patients [6]. The true rate can be even higher given not all patients undergo appropriate diagnostic evaluation with thoracentesis and biopsy. In our case, the pleural fluid flow cytometry found involvement by an abnormal lymphoplasmacytic population consistent with surface lambda light chain-restriction. A rare differential diagnosis which was considered was Primary Effusion Lymphoma (PEL). All patients with PEL have HHV-8 infection and many have EBV infection. Therefore, in situ hybridization testing of pleural fluid for HHV-8 and EBV are needed to exclude the possibility of PEL. In areas with high prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB), possible etiology of pleural effusions also includes reactive pleural effusion to TB. It has been previously reported that localized extramedullary plasma cell proliferation can be a transient reactive process to pulmonary TB, which subsides when the underlying TB is treated [29].

In our case, the BM pathology and flow cytometry were both negative for plasma cell neoplasm. This can be due to patchy myeloma involvement as noted on PET-CT, which is seen in approximately 4% of MM patients [30]. In this case, there was diagnostic suspicion for underlying genetic syndrome such as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome due to hemangiomas in brain and spine, lipomas, and hematologic malignancy, but genetic testing was not performed prior to our patient’s passing.

Treatment

Extramedullary Disease (EMD) was reported to be resistant to conventional treatments but responded well to regimens containing novel drugs such as bortezomib. In a recent review [1], an approach to EMD in newly diagnosed MM is suggested for elderly patients with age greater than 65 years with CyBorD as an initial induction therapy followed by lenalidomide-bortezomib-dexamethasone (RVd) regimen, and then high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant can be considered based on the response. As observed in the 19 cases with concurrent EMPs and MPE over the past three decades, treatment has always been a challenge with no consistent results or trends. However, considering MPE is a rare form of EMPs, the observed benefit still favors the trial of CyBorD as an initial therapy. In our case, patient showed excellent radiographical response to only one cycle of CyBorD prior to her unexpected passing.

Prognosis

MPE confers very poor prognosis with a median time of death of 4 months from onset of the pleural effusions [7]. In a case series of 19 patients with MPE, seven expired within 3 months after initial diagnosis of MPEs, and 2 more expired within 12 months of MPE diagnosis. Among cases with reported cause of death (9 out of 19), most were attributed to direct progression of MM (7/9). In our case, the patient passed due to complications from an aspiration event, which is not a typical sign of MM progression. In a prior observational study of 23 MM patients with MPE, respiratory failure and cardiac tamponade were the two most common causes of death [31].

Conclusion

This data along with our case suggest that patients with MPE may be more likely to deteriorate from pulmonary and/or cardiogenic events rather than the more commonly known complications of MM such as infection or renal failure.

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