Vitamin B12 deficiency presenting with pulmonary embolism: An unusual presentation

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South African study of blast phase chronic myeloid leukaemia: A poor prognostic outlook

Background

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a haematological malignancy characterised by the translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11.2), resulting in a constitutively active tyrosine kinase. Globally, overall survival of blast crisis phase (BC) CML is one year. Newer tyrosine kinase inhibitors and allogeneic stem cell transplantation offer remission; however, refractory and relapsed disease remain the biggest challenges.

Objective

In South Africa, literature is lacking on BC-CML. This study aimed to determine the disease characteristics and overall survival in South Africa.

Methods

This retrospective, laboratory-based study reviewed all new BC-CML diagnoses via flow cytometry at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, between April 2016 and October 2019. BC-CML was defined as the presence of > 20% blasts with a CML history or the BCR-ABL1 fusion gene (p210/p190) in the appropriate clinical or pathological context. Survival outcomes were inferred from clinical and laboratory data.

Results

Twenty-two new cases of BC-CML were diagnosed (median age: 34 years). There were 20 (91%) cases with the fusion transcripts p210 and two (9%) cases with p190 BCRABL1. For blast lineage, 14 cases were myeloid (63.6%), six were lymphoid (27.3%), and two were ambiguous (9.1%). There was a 72.7% mortality (16 cases); sepsis, refractory and relapsed disease were the major causes. Patients who achieved remission had lower blast percentages, simple karyotypes, and a trend towards higher white cell and platelet counts at presentation.

Conclusion

Optimised management of early-stage CML, prevention and aggressive management of sepsis, with advocation for newer therapies are needed to improve the overall survival of BC-CML in South Africa.

Extranodal presentation of a lymphoma with precursor B-cell phenotype and translocation t(8;14) in South Africa

Introduction

A rare entity of a B-cell malignancy with precursor B-cell phenotype and concomitant translocation t(8;14) or variant MYC translocation exists. These cases show clinical, pathological and molecular overlap between precursor B-lymphoblastic leukaemia or lymphoma and Burkitt leukaemia or lymphoma (BLL).

Case presentation

We report a case from February 2019 at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, South Africa, of a 9-month-old infant with a predominantly extracranial soft tissue mass showing extradural extension. There was no involvement of the peripheral blood or bone marrow. Fine needle aspiration and Tru-Cut biopsy of the soft tissue scalp mass showed the tumour to be of precursor B-cell phenotype. Contrastingly, an immunophenotypic assessment revealed a high S-phase fraction and raised concern for BLL. This prompted testing for the translocation t(8;14) by fluorescence in-situ hybridisation analysis, which confirmed this aberration.

Management and outcome

Based on the published experience of other centres, the patient was initiated on a BLL protocol. Despite an excellent clinical response, the patient succumbed to neutropenic sepsis six months after diagnosis.

Conclusion

Leukaemia or lymphoma with translocation t(8;14) or variant MYC translocation and precursor B-cell phenotype is a rare entity with a varied clinical presentation. This poses a challenge for diagnosis and classification and a clinical dilemma for the choice of treatment.