Fine-needle aspiration cytology of a case of HIV-associated anaplastic myeloma

Plasma cell neoplasia occurs much less frequently than high-grade B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma in HIV-infected patients, but is nevertheless an AIDS-associated malignancy. In this report, we describe the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) findings of a mass in the left parotid region with plasmablastic features that occurred in a 41-yr-old HIV-infected homosexual man whom we diagnosed as having anaplastic myeloma. The patient had normochromic, normocytic anemia with a hematocrit of 21%, a white blood count of 2.2 x 10(9)/l with 76% neutrophils, and a CD4 count of 31%. He also had elevated levels of calcium (13.2 mg/dl), alkaline phosphatase (25,400 IU/l), blood urea nitrogen (2,600 mg/dl), and creatinine (2.5 mg/dl). Serum protein electrophoresis showed polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia without any monoclonal component. A bone survey revealed multiple punched-out lytic lesions. FNA smears showed large plasmacytoid cells with eccentrically placed nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and moderate amounts of basophilic cytoplasm. By immunocytochemical staining, tumor cells were negative for CD19, CD20, and leukocyte-common antigen (LCA), but strongly positive for CD38 and kappa light chain. Anaplastic myeloma and plasmablastic lymphoma were considered in the differential diagnosis. Although the cytomorphologic and immunophenotypic findings of our case overlapped with those of plasmablastic lymphoma, the pattern of bone involvement with punched-out lytic lesions and absence of localization of the tumor to the mucosa of the oral cavity led us to a diagnosis of anaplastic myeloma. The patient initially received antiretroviral therapy followed by thalidomide and pulse dexamethasome therapy, but his response was poor. His HIV load increased, and his malignancy rapidly progressed with the development of multiple vertebral lesions, extraosseous extension, and eventually cord compression. He died of the disease less than 2 mo after presentation.