Pathology · patient case question
Which cell type is involved in this medical condition?
Patient case: Case: multiple punched-out radiolucencies
Scenario: A radiograph shows numerous well-defined radiolucencies scattered through the jaws, without corticated margins and without any relationship to the teeth. Three linked questions followed.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Plasma cells
- A. Ghost cells are the histologic hallmark of the calcifying odontogenic cyst (Gorlin cyst), a single lesion, not multifocal lytic disease.
- B. Multinucleated giant cells characterise central giant cell granuloma and the brown tumour of hyperparathyroidism.
- C. Correct. Multiple myeloma is a malignant monoclonal proliferation of plasma cells in the marrow, producing a monoclonal immunoglobulin spike and lytic bone lesions.
- D. T-cell malignancies produce lymphomas and leukaemias, which do not give this punched-out radiographic pattern.