Plasmacytoma of the eye and orbit.

BACKGROUND

Plasmacytomas of the ocular and adnexal tissue are rare. The variation in their clinical manifestations and potential association with multiple myeloma are not well appreciated.

METHODS

We reviewed the clinical features and laboratory data of five cases of plasmacytoma involving the eye and orbit.

RESULTS

Plasmacytomas involved the conjunctiva in one case, the orbit in three cases, and the iris in one case. Plasmacytoma was the solitary plasma cell neoplasm in a patient with a conjunctival lesion and another patient with an orbital lesion. Two other patients who developed plasmacytomas of the orbit and iris, respectively, had a known history of multiple myeloma. An orbital plasmacytoma preceded the onset of systemic plasma cell neoplasia in the final patient.

CONCLUSION

Plasmacytomas of the eye and orbit are rare. They may or may not be associated with multiple myeloma.