Coexistence of chronic myeloid leukemia and pulmonary plasmacytoma mimicking primary lung cancer

Abstract

A 61-year-old man was diagnosed with the simultaneous occurrence of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and infiltrative intrathoracic plasmacytoma, radiologically mimicking bronchogenic carcinoma. Following the administration of imatinib mesylate (IM; 400 mg/day), both hematologic and partial cytogenetic remission of CML were achieved. However, the pulmonary plasmacytoma was persistently aggravated. High-dose dexamethasone was added to the IM therapy because the patient refused radiotherapy to control the aggravated pulmonary plasmacytoma. Finally, he died due to pneumonia and multi-organ failure during concurrent administration of IM and high-dose dexamethasone.