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A Persistent epidural mass in a child with B‐lineage ALL
Author(s) -
Molina Blanca,
Lassaletta Álvaro,
Andion Maitane,
GonzalezVicent Marta,
LópezPino Miguel A.,
Madero Luis
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.22682
Subject(s) - medicine , epidural space , complication , biopsy , spinal cord , chemotherapy , surgery , presentation (obstetrics) , radiology , psychiatry
Epidural spinal cord compression as the initial presentation of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rare and serious complication. Extramedullary disease is rarely reported in patients with ALL. The most common sites are bone, followed by soft tissue, skin and lymph nodes. We describe a child with common B—lineage ALL who presented with a mass in the spinal epidural space. She was initially treated with intrathecal chemotherapy and intravenous dexamethasone with total resolution of her clinical symptoms but a persistent epidural mass. An open biopsy of the residual epidural mass was performed 7 months after diagnosis. The histological examination did not reveal any tumor infiltration, only fibrosis. We conclude that a persistent epidural mass in patients with ALL may not indicate resistant disease and may require over a year for resolution, even when response to therapy is adequate. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:727–729. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.