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 loca…