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Pernicious anemia: presentations mimicking acute leukemia.
Cristi Aitelli1, Lori Wasson, Ray Page
1Texas Cancer Care, Fort Worth, TX 76104, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|March 27, 2004
Summary
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause bone marrow changes mimicking acute leukemia. Prompt diagnosis and treatment with vitamin B12 corrected these serious hematologic alterations.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Bone marrow alterations can present diagnostic challenges.
- Distinguishing between various hematologic conditions is crucial for appropriate treatment.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with bone marrow smears suggestive of acute leukemia or myelodysplasia.
- Initial assessment indicated potential need for induction chemotherapy.
Findings:
- Further investigation revealed vitamin B12 deficiency as the underlying cause.
- Parenteral vitamin B12 administration led to complete normalization of bone marrow morphology.
Implications:
- Vitamin B12 deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abnormal bone marrow findings.
- Appropriate nutritional assessment can prevent unnecessary aggressive treatments like chemotherapy.