In what scenarios (if ever) would you check peripheral blood flow cytometry in a patient with known multiple myeloma to evaluate for circulating plasma cells (CPCs) in the absence of an abnormal smear?
There are some retrospective data that CPCs are associated with worsened outcomes after transplantation. Anecdotally, CPCs could be collected as part of stem cell or T-cell collection. In the (rare) patient with symptoms suspicious for CNS involvement, perhaps CPCs would be helpful to know about before an LP. Would you ever check it?
1 Answer
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Medical Oncology · University of Chicago
Answered on
The question alludes to the fact that there is substantial data now on the prognostic implications of circulating plasma cells at diagnosis. Jelinek et al., PMID 36315921 showed that 2%+ CPCs are associated with a plasma cell leukemia-like phenotype. Much lower levels of CPCs were also associated wi...
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