[Pathogenesis of bone marrow necrosis in a patient with cancer]

Bone marrow necrosis was observed in a 23-year-old pregnant woman with severe anemia and thrombocytopenia due to bilateral ovarian carcinoma. After removal of the primary tumors, the hematological findings returned to normal, but the progression of the metastasis lead to respiratory insufficiency and death. The possible mechanisms leading to bone marrow necrosis are discussed. In our case, it could be shown that emboli of tumor cells into the vessels of the bone marrow lead to the necrosis of the marrow. The embolization was temporarily stopped after removal of the ovaries.