J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2006 Jul;40(1):54-57.

Central Nervous System Involvement of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

• Hyun SJ
• Kim YB
• Yu H
• Hong HJ

Abstract

Central nervous system(CNS) involvement of acute lymphoblastic leukemia may occur. However, CNS involvement as a first manifestation of leukemia is very rare. An 8-year-old girl complained of a backache after playing in the water. Neurological examination detected progressing paraparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) of the thoracolumbar spine showed a well-circumscribed homogeneous posterior extradural mass lesion extending from T7 to T9. MRI of the brain showed diffused fatty marrow replacement of the calvarium and the skull base. We report a patient with epidural Burkitt's lymphoma of the thoracic and lumbar vertebra causing compression of the spinal cord after pathologic evaluation. The tumor consisted mainly of lymphoblastic cells, which were identical to those originally seen in the bone marrow aspiration and biopsy. After decompressive laminectomy she began consolidation chemotherapy.

Keyword

Leukemia; Burkitt's lymphoma; Spine; Laminectomy

MeSH Terms

Back Pain
Biopsy
Bone Marrow
Brain
Burkitt Lymphoma
Central Nervous System*
Child
Consolidation Chemotherapy
Female
Humans
Laminectomy
Leukemia
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Neurologic Examination
Paraparesis
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma*
Skull
Skull Base
Spinal Cord
Spine