Solitary Bone Plasmacytoma of the Skull Base With an Unusual Presentation

Ear Nose Throat J. 2024 Apr 18:1455613241249039. doi: 10.1177/01455613241249039. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Solitary bone plasmacytoma (SBP) is a rare hematological malignancy that usually occurs in the spine and rarely in the skull. It rarely presents in the skull base, but presenting symptoms are associated with cranial nerve involvement depending on the site of the disease. We present the case of a 61-year-old man with an unusual presentation of hoarseness secondary to vocal fold palsy. Imaging showed a large bony lesion in the temporo-occipital region with involvement of the jugular foramen. Further detailed diagnostic procedures confirmed SBP of the skull base. Radiotherapy was given with an uneventful recovery of vocal fold function. Skull base plasmacytoma can be considered as a differential diagnosis of causes of unilateral vocal fold palsy. Early therapeutic management may improve vocal fold function.

Keywords: hoarseness; multiple myeloma; plasmacytoma; skull base; temporal bone; vocal palsy.