Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Arising During Maintenance Therapy of Plasma Cell Myeloma.

BACKGROUND

Both plasma cell myeloma (PCM) and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) are mature B-cell neoplasms commonly involving bone marrow and usually related to paraproteinemia.

METHODS

Secondary WM in a patient with PCM during maintenance therapy has not been previously reported. We herein report the first case of WM arising during maintenance therapy of PCM.

RESULTS

The diagnosis of secondary WM during maintenance therapy of PCM was based on combination of medical history, morphology, flow cytometry, immunofixation electrophoresis, and molecular genetics.

CONCLUSIONS

This case highlights the importance of an integrated diagnostic work-up, with an interesting role for morphology and flow immunotyping.