S0340 MRI and Fludeoxyglucose F18 PET in Diagnosing Solitary Plasmacytoma

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed solitary plasmacytoma of 1 of the following types: Solitary bone plasmacytoma Extraosseus solitary plasmacytoma Bone marrow plasmacytosis < 10% within the past 4 weeks Low serum and/or urine M-protein meeting ≥ 1 of the following criteria: Serum IgG < 3.5 g/dL Serum IgA < 2.0 g/dL Urine M-protein (kappa or lambda) < 1.0 g/24 hours No lytic lesions on skeletal survey other than a single lesion associated with solitary plasmacytoma within the past 4 weeks PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age 18 and over Performance status Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy Not specified Hematopoietic Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL* AND/OR No hemoglobin 2 g/dL < lower limit of normal* (LLN) NOTE: *Patients with a history of hemoglobin < 10 g/dL AND/OR < 2 g/dL < LLN that has corrected or improved after epoetin alfa but requires continued treatment with epoetin alfa are not eligible Hepatic Not specified Renal Calcium ≤ 10.5 mg/dL OR Calcium normal Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL Other No other malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, carcinoma in situ of the cervix or breast, or stage I or II cancer that is currently in complete remission PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy Not specified Chemotherapy Not specified Endocrine therapy No prior high-dose steroids except to relieve neurological compromise Radiotherapy Prior localized radiotherapy for myeloma allowed Concurrent radiotherapy allowed Surgery Prior surgery for myeloma allowed Other No other prior therapy for myeloma Concurrent enrollment in protocol SWOG-S0309 (Myeloma Specimen Repository) allowed