Primary Plasma Cell Tumors of the Upper Air Passages.Dr. Clyde A. Heatly, Rochester, N. Y.
Dr. Heatly, in surveying the literature, found only 175 cases reported, many of them incomplete. These tumors are primarily of lymph origin and in some respects resemble multiple myeloma, differing mainly in their slower development and slightly different morphology, as found by various laboratory tests and x-ray examination. As a rule, they are solitary, although at times multiple, and may occur anywhere in the upper air passages. They are very vascular, usually spread superficially, and tend to metastasize to the nodes and bones, rarely to the lungs and other organs. There is some doubt as to whether these are true metastases, some authors believing the growths to be of multiple origin. The tumors should be generally classified as malignant and so treated. They are usually sensitive to irradiation, which should be combined with surgery.