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Extramedullary Imaging Manifestations of Leukemia/Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in Pediatrics: A Case Series
Marcia Mejia1, Mónica Royero Arias2, Vanessa Santiago Pacheco3
1Radiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, COL.
Insights
Extramedullary manifestations in precursor B-cell leukemia are uncommon but can occur. This study details four pediatric cases, highlighting clinical and imaging features to aid diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Hematology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, often presenting with vague symptoms.
- Extramedullary manifestations (leukemia outside bone marrow) are more typical in myeloid or T-cell leukemias.
- Precursor B-cell leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma can also present with extramedullary disease.
Observation:
- This study describes four pediatric patients with extramedullary B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia.
- Clinical features and diagnostic imaging findings were analyzed.
- Histopathological characteristics were also documented.
Findings:
- Extramedullary involvement in precursor B-cell leukemia, while less common, presents distinct clinical and imaging patterns.
- Detailed case series provides insights into the presentation of this rare manifestation.
- Histopathology confirms the B-cell lineage in these extramedullary sites.
Implications:
- Recognizing these patterns can improve early diagnosis of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia in children.
- Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in identifying extramedullary disease.
- This case series contributes to understanding the spectrum of leukemia presentations in pediatric patients.
Abstract:
Leukemia is the most common childhood malignancy and often presents with nonspecific symptoms. Occasionally, it presents with extramedullary manifestations, which have been more frequent in cases of myeloid lineage or T cells. However, precursor B-cell leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma can also have extramedullary manifestations in some patients. Describing certain clinical features along with diagnostic imaging can establish a presentation pattern and suggest a diagnosis in the pediatric population. Herein, we present a series of four patients with extramedullary manifestations of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, describing their clinical imaging and histopathological characteristics.
