[Plasmacytoma of the head of the pancreas: a rare cause of cholestatic jaundice].

A case of plasmacytoma of the head of the pancreas in a 75-year-old woman, revealed by obstructive jaundice, is reported. The tumor, which compressed the main bile duct, appeared to be round on sonographic and endoscopic retrograde cholangiographic investigations. Sonographically guided needle biopsy was performed but led to the erroneous diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Choledochojejunostomy and gastrojejunostomy were then performed but the patient died 10 days after the operation. Pathological examination of the specimens obtained at autopsy showed that the pancreatic tumor (as well as an other osseous lesion) were plasmacytomas with cells containing G immunoglobulins of the lambda type. Despite the failure of needle biopsy to lead to correct diagnosis in this case, the potential value of this method remains unequivocal as reported previously. Indeed, when positive results are obtained by this method in visceral localizations of plasmacytoma, hazardous surgery may be avoided and radiation and/or chemotherapy may be chosen preferentially.