Plasma cell leukemia: Difference between revisions

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== Additional Info ==

*Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is an aggressive form of multiple myeloma characterized by high levels of abnormal plasma cells circulating in the peripheral (circulating) blood. Normal plasma cells in the bone marrow produce antibodies that fight infection.

*In myeloma most of the abnormal plasma cells remain in the bone marrow and are not found in the peripheral blood. In PCL, the abnormal plasma cells are in the peripheral blood. Therefore, PCL is considered to be an advanced form of myeloma. PCL can either originate as the primary manifestation of the disease (primary PCL with no history of myeloma) or as a transformation of myeloma (secondary PCL with progression of previously diagnosed myeloma).

*In ''myeloma'' most of the abnormal plasma cells remain in the bone marrow and are not found in the peripheral blood. In PCL, the abnormal plasma cells are in the peripheral blood. Therefore, PCL is considered to be an advanced form of myeloma. PCL can either originate as the primary manifestation of the disease (primary PCL with no history of myeloma) or as a transformation of myeloma (secondary PCL with progression of previously diagnosed myeloma).

*Primary PCL is rare, with an estimated 1 per million of the general population diagnosed each year. Secondary PCL occurs in one to four out of 100 cases of myeloma and is becoming more common as myeloma patients are living longer.

*As with myeloma, PCL is more common in African Americans than in Caucasians and is slightly more common in men than in women. As new insights and knowledge about the biology of myeloma and PCL are gained, it may be possible to determine which myeloma patients are at increased risk for developing PCL.

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 == Additional Info ==
 *Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is an aggressive form of multiple myeloma characterized by high levels of abnormal plasma cells circulating in the peripheral (circulating) blood. Normal plasma cells in the bone marrow produce antibodies that fight infection.
-*In myeloma most of the abnormal plasma cells remain in the bone marrow and are not found in the peripheral blood. In PCL, the abnormal plasma cells are in the peripheral blood. Therefore, PCL is considered to be an advanced form of myeloma. PCL can either originate as the primary manifestation of the disease (primary PCL with no history of myeloma) or as a transformation of myeloma (secondary PCL with progression of previously diagnosed myeloma).
+*In ''myeloma'' most of the abnormal plasma cells remain in the bone marrow and are not found in the peripheral blood. In PCL, the abnormal plasma cells are in the peripheral blood. Therefore, PCL is considered to be an advanced form of myeloma. PCL can either originate as the primary manifestation of the disease (primary PCL with no history of myeloma) or as a transformation of myeloma (secondary PCL with progression of previously diagnosed myeloma).
 *Primary PCL is rare, with an estimated 1 per million of the general population diagnosed each year. Secondary PCL occurs in one to four out of 100 cases of myeloma and is becoming more common as myeloma patients are living longer.
 *As with myeloma, PCL is more common in African Americans than in Caucasians and is slightly more common in men than in women. As new insights and knowledge about the biology of myeloma and PCL are gained, it may be possible to determine which myeloma patients are at increased risk for developing PCL.