Solitary plasmacytoma of the jaw

Abstract

Background: There is a lack of consensus on the appropriate management of solitary plasmacytoma (SP) of the jaw. The aim of the present investigation was to provide scientific evidence for the optimal management of this disease through a systematic literature review.

Methods: The included articles are published in English from 1948 to March 2011 and describe the population affected by SP of the jaw with site, clinical and radiographic features, special findings, initial diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.

Results: Fifty cases of SP of the jaw were identified. It typically presents as a single osteolytic lesion with no plasmocytosis involvement of bone marrow. Long bones and vertebrae are the most common sites of SP. Rarely, it involves the jaw occurring in only 4% of cases, mainly in the bone marrow-rich areas, angulus and ramus. Solitary plasmacytoma of the jaw has a worse prognosis than multiple myeloma (MM), and in half of the cases, it evolves in MM.

Conclusions: Because SP of bones is an uncommon tumor that rarely involves the jaws, through this article we emphasize early diagnosis and appropriate management to avoid progression to MM.