Kidney Biopsy Un-masquerading Plasma Cell Leukemia Diagnosed as Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Unusual Clinical Experience

Cureus. 2023 Aug 3;15(8):e42909. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42909. eCollection 2023 Aug.

Abstract

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare aggressive variant of plasma cell myeloma. The differential diagnosis of PCL includes multiple myeloma (MM), other leukemias, and lymphomas with abnormal cells circulating in the peripheral blood. In addition, infectious or autoimmune diseases can cause reactive polyclonal plasmacytosis, which could confuse us with PCL occasionally. Sometimes, blastoid morphology can cause confusion in diagnosis, and immunohistochemistry is needed to differentiate PCL from other forms of leukemias and lymphomas. Here, we present a rare case of PCL diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with kidney biopsy establishing the correct diagnosis.

Keywords: acute kidney injury; acute myeloid leukemia; hypercalcemia; nephrotic-range proteinuria; overlapping hematological malignancies; plasma cell leukemia; rare disorder.

Publication types

  • Case Reports