Intracranial granulocytic sarcoma in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia]

Granulocytic sarcoma (GS) is extramedullary tumor composed of immature leukemic cells. GS is presenting usually as a complication during the course of hematologic neoplasm, such as acute myeloblastic leukemia as well as myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic syndrome. The tumor was also called chroloma based on the green color of the tumorous mass. Central nervous system manifestations of GS are extremely rare. We report a 41-year-old man with acute leukemia type M7, who developed GS in the right occipital lobe after complete remission was achieved. Operative findings revealed the color of the hard tumor was greenish, which suggested the tumor was chroloma. Histological findings showed the tumor was GS. The majority of reported cases of GS in acute myeloid leukemia were M2 FAB classification and have chromosome translocation. Our patient was M7 FAB classification, not have specific chromosome translocation. GS occurrence in AML: M7 patient was extremely rare. This is the first case report of AML: M7 with GS in the central nervous system.     

Intracranial myeloid sarcoma presentation in distant acute myeloid leukemia remission

Intracranial myeloid sarcoma (IMS) is a rare central nervous system manifestation of hematopoietic neoplasms of myeloid origin. We report the first case of IMS treatment with an isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (IDH-2) inhibitor, Enasidenib, following surgical resection, whole-brain radiation, and consolidation Etoposide/Cytarabine therapy. A 42-year-old female was diagnosed with IMS after a 10-year remission of her acute myeloid leukemia (AML). She underwent surgical debulking and had postoperative resolution of her visual symptoms. She received adjuvant radiation and medical management, and continues to show no evidence of recurrence or progression at 17 months postoperatively. This case is notable for an isolated IMS presentation in a patient with a very distant history of AML remission, and without evidence of concurrent bone marrow relapse. The goals of neurosurgical intervention should be symptomatic relief of mass effect and pathological diagnosis, due to the sensitivity of IMS to adjuvant radiation and medical management such as IDH-2 inhibitors.     

Low back pain in a pregnant woman

Low back pain is very common and often considered a part of normal pregnancy. Because the pain is always attributed to pregnancy, referral to a specialist is often delayed. We describe a young woman who developed low back pain and signs of progressive spinal cord compression at 33 weeks' gestation of her second pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracic spine showed a collapsed T11 vertebral body and a large paraspinal and intraspinal tumor compressing on the spinal cord from the right. Emergent surgical decompression and removal of the tumor mass was done. Pathological examination revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma and subsequently, a palpable nodule was found in the left breast, which, on biopsy, proved to be an invasive lobular carcinoma.     

Value of repeat CT scans in low back pain and radiculopathy

We assessed the clinical value of repeat spine CT scan in 108 patients aged 18–60 years who underwent repeat lumbar spine CT scan for low back pain or radiculopathy from January 2008 to December 2010. Patients with a neoplasm or symptoms suggesting underlying disease were excluded from the study. Clinical data was retrospectively reviewed. Index examinations and repeat CT scan performed at a mean of 24.3 ± 11.3 months later were compared by a senior musculoskeletal radiologist. Disc abnormalities (herniation, sequestration, bulge), spinal stenosis, disc space narrowing, and bony changes (osteophytes, fractures, other changes) were documented. Indications for CT scan were low back pain (60 patients, 55%), radiculopathy (46 patients, 43%), or nonspecific back pain (two patients, 2%). A total of 292 spine pathologies were identified in 98 patients (90.7%); in 10 patients (9.3%) no spine pathology was seen on index or repeat CT scan. At repeat CT scan, 269/292 pathologies were unchanged (92.1%); 10/292 improved (3.4%), 8/292 worsened (2.8%, disc herniation or spinal stenosis), and five new pathologies were identified. No substantial therapeutic change was required in patients with worsened or new pathology. Added diagnostic value from repeat CT scan performed within 2–3 years was rare in patients suffering chronic or recurrent low back pain or radiculopathy, suggesting that repeat CT scan should be considered only in patients with progressive neurologic deficits, new neurologic complaints, or signs implying serious underlying conditions.     

Chronic myeloid leukemia associated with mitoxantrone treatment in a patient with MS

We report the first case of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in a patient with multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosed within two years of receiving mitoxantrone therapy. Previously only acute forms of leukemia particularly acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) have been associated with mitoxantrone treatment in MS. This underscores the need for only using mitoxantrone in severe treatment-unresponsive cases of MS.     

Key role of CCR2-expressing macrophages in a mouse model of low back pain and radiculopathy

Chronic low back pain is a common condition, with high societal costs and often ineffectual treatments. Communication between macrophages/monocytes (MØ) and sensory neurons has been implicated in various preclinical pain models. However, few studies have examined specific MØ subsets, although distinct subtypes may play opposing roles. This study used a model of low back pain/radiculopathy involving direct local inflammation of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Reporter mice were employed that had distinct fluorescent labels for two key MØ subsets: CCR2-expressing (infiltrating pro-inflammatory) MØ, and CX3CR1-expressing (resident) macrophages. We observed that local DRG inflammation induced pain behaviors in mice, including guarding behavior and mechanical hypersensitivity, similar to the previously described rat model. The increase in MØ in the inflamed DRG was dominated by increases in CCR2⁺ MØ, which persisted for at least 14 days. The primary endogenous ligand for CCR2, CCL2, was upregulated in inflamed DRG. Three different experimental manipulations that reduced the CCR2⁺ MØ influx also reduced pain behaviors: global CCR2 knockout; systemic injection of INCB3344 (specific CCR2 blocker); and intravenous injection of liposomal clodronate. The latter two treatments when applied around the time of DRG inflammation reduced CCR2⁺ but not CX3CR1⁺ MØ in the DRG. Together these experiments suggest a key role for the CCR2/CCL2 system in establishing the pain state in this model of inflammatory low back pain and radiculopathy. Intravenous clodronate given after pain was established had the opposite effect on pain behaviors, suggesting the role of macrophages or their susceptibility to clodronate may change with time.     

慢性下腰痛患者腰部肌肉放电的均衡性

目的：观察慢性下腰痛患者腰部肌肉放电的均衡性。 方法：实验于2007-05在沈阳体育学院重点实验室完成。以14名健康受试者和14名慢性下腰痛患者为观察对象,让其在静力性收缩的条件下观察腰部肌肉放电的情况。使用表面肌电技术测量受试者腰部3个节段(L1,L2,L5)两侧最长肌、髂腰肋肌、多裂肌的放电情况,令受试者躯干分别在40%最大随意收缩和80%最大随意收缩的情况做等长收缩30 s,观察受试者腰部脊柱两侧肌肉的疲劳时的失衡情况。 结果：慢性下腰痛患者腰部肌肉的最大随意收缩仅仅是对照组最大随意收缩的55%,与对照组相比慢性下腰痛患者腰部肌肉疲劳程度较低, 可能与他们并没有产生真正的最大随意收缩有关;慢性下腰痛患者腰部两侧肌肉失衡程度较大。 结论：下腰痛患者出现疼痛时,其腰部两侧的肌肉活动重新分布;同时表面肌电可能成为一种无创伤地检测肌肉失衡的有效工具。     

Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis in a patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia

We report a case of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) in an immunocompromised patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia who was initially diagnosed with aseptic meningitis. Isolation of Sabin-like type 1 poliovirus from the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid made this a case of vaccine-related poliovirus (VRPV) infection. The patient developed paralysis and respiratory distress and deceased a few months after onset of paralysis with respiratory failure. This tragic case report highlights the emergence of VAPP and indicates the importance of timely diagnosis of VRPV infections to improve clinical management of VRPV-infected patients and to prevent the devastating consequences of silent introduction of VRPVs in treatment wards and eventually in the society.     

Low back pain due to hypertrophic roots as presenting symptom of CIDP

Attention has recently been drawn to chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) with symptomatic nerve root hypertrophy. A 31-year-old woman had fluctuating and worsening low back pain. Absent tendon jerks and a slight weakness of the hand interossei muscles suggested a diffuse neuropathy. The electrophysiological and histological findings were diagnostic for CIDP. Lumbar spine MRI showed marked nerve root enlargement with gadolinium enhancement. This case widens the range of the clinical presentations of CIDP. Further studies are warranted to ascertain whether cauda equina gadolinium enhancement may be a useful tool in the diagnosis of CIDP and a marker of disease activity for monitoring response to therapy.The financial support of Telethon Italy to A.U. (project# 991) is gratefully acknowledged.