[Myelophthisis and gastric cancer. An unusual association]

The infiltration of the bone marrow y non-hematopoietic cells is called myelophthisis. In patients with gastric cancer, this invasion is extremely infrequent and the survival is usually less than three months. We present the case of a 35-year-old man with bone marrow involvement secondary to diffuse gastric carcinoma of signet ring cells.

Metastatic Basal Cell Carcinoma

Report on a case of primary basal cell carcinoma in the skin of the eyelid. Only bone metastases were detected after many local recurrences. The metastases were associated with myelophthisic anemia, leukoerythroblastosis in the peripheral blood and extramedullary hepatic hemopoiesis; these findings have not been reported before.

Response after treatment with pembrolizumab in a patient with myelophthisis due to melanoma: the role of checkpoint inhibition in the bone

BACKGROUND

Myelophthisis due to melanoma is a rare phenomenon. Treatment strategies for patients with this serious complication of malignancy have not been well documented, and none have previously reported efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition. Since bone metastases are not measurable lesions per standard response criteria, the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibition in the bones is also not well described.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe a patient with widespread melanoma metastases involving the bone marrow causing myelophthisis and pancytopenia who responded to immune checkpoint inhibition with the anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor pembrolizumab.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report to our knowledge of disease response to immune checkpoint inhibition in a patient with myelophthisis. Clinical trials have recently emerged describing the efficacy of PD-1 inhibition for disorders regularly involving the bone marrow, such as hematologic malignancies, suggesting the importance of better understanding the bone marrow as an immunologically active compartment. Clinicians should be aware that immune checkpoint inhibition alone may be effective in treating malignancy involving the bone marrow, even in cases of extensive involvement resulting in pancytopenia due to myelophthisis from a solid tumor as our case suggests.

[Myelophthisis and kasabach merrit syndrome as initial manifestation of splenic angiosarcoma]

Primary splenic angiosarcoma is an extremely agressive and rare neoplasm. Manifestations as bone marrow invasion and coagulation disorders have been reported isolatedly. A 26 years-old woman presented with abdominal pain; several anemia and thrombocytopenia associated to leukoerythroblastic reaction were found in the laboratory. Consumpion coagulopathy signs and microangiopathy as schistocytes, prolonged prothrombine time, decreased fibrinogen and increased D dimer were also present. Imaging findings included a lobulated, enlarged spleen, with spontanously hyperdense areas, and heterogeneous nodules with intense, irregular enhancement after contrast administration. There were hepatic and pulmonary metastases, as well as bone lesions with conspicuous vessels. Clinical features of Kasabach-Merrit syndrome and imaging vascular neoplasm characteristics suggest a primary splenic angiosarcoma. Splenectomy and bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of primary splenic angiosarcoma in metastatic stage.

Clinical, histopathologic, and genetic features of pediatric primary myelofibrosis--an entity different from adults

Primary myelofibrosis is a chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by cytopenias, leukoerythroblastosis, extramedullary hematopoiesis, hepatosplenomegaly and bone marrow fibrosis. Primary myelofibrosis is a rare disorder in adults; children are even less commonly affected by this entity, with the largest pediatric case series reporting on three patients. Most literature suggests spontaneous resolution of myelofibrosis without long term complications in the majority of affected children. We describe the clinical, pathologic, and molecular characteristics and outcomes of nineteen children with primary myelofibrosis treated in our center from 1984 to 2011. Most patients had cytopenia significant enough to require supportive therapy. No child developed malignant transformation and only five of the 19 children (26%) had spontaneous resolution of disease. Sequence analyses for JAK2V617F and MPLW515L mutations were performed on bone marrow samples from 17 and six patients, respectively, and the results were negative. In conclusion, analysis of this large series of pediatric patients with primary myelofibrosis demonstrates distinct clinical, hematologic, bone marrow, and molecular features from adult patients.

Clinical spectrum of myelophthisis in cancer patients

Myelophthisis is a form of bone marrow failure due to replacement of hematopoietic tissue by abnormal tissue, most commonly metastatic carcinomas. This results in extramedullary hematopoiesis, typically in the spleen leading to premature release of hematopoietic cells into the circulation. Peripheral blood findings may include nucleated red blood cells, tear drop forms, giant platelets, and immature leukocytes. This is called a leukoerythroblastic picture. The first case demonstrates acute myelophthisis as a presentation of pancreatic cancer. The second case is of extramedullary hematopoiesis as a manifestation of widely metastatic melanoma. The presence of a leukoerythroblastic peripheral blood picture should serve as a valuable clue about a possible underlying malignancy. This late presentation of advanced cancer may now be rarely seen because of early diagnosis and more effective therapies.

Myelophthisis as a solitary manifestation of failure from rectal carcinoma. A Batson phenomenon?

Rectal carcinoma is uncommonly associated with systemic metastases in the absence of liver metastases, reflecting the predilection for spread via the portal system. Occasionally, isolated lung metastases are seen, which are usually attributed to spread via the portosystemic anastomoses in the distal rectum. However, myelophthisis is an unreported complication of rectal cancer as an isolated form of systemic failure. We present a case of fatal myelophthisis associated with otherwise localized rectal carcinoma secondary to metastatic rectal cancer. This observation led to the hypothesis that spread to the bone marrow occurred via a "third circulation," the Batson plexus, a network of deep pelvic veins with rich anastomoses to the vertebral plexus.

Leukoerythroblastosis and normoblastemia in the cat

Over a six-month period, 6% of 313 cats evaluated hematologically had either leukoerythroblastosis or normoblastemia. Diseases associated with these hematological conditions included haemobartonellosis, hepatic lipidosis, trauma, viral and bacterial infections, myeloproliferative disorders, and hemangiosarcoma. The finding of leukoerythroblastosis or normoblastemia may aid in diagnosing cats presenting with nonspecific signs.

Multiple diffuse fibrosarcoma of bone associated with extramedullary hematopoiesis

We report a case of multiple diffuse fibrosarcoma of bone. The patient, a 38-year-old man, was referred to our hospital with knee pain, anemia and thrombocytopenia. No solid mass was seen on radiographic examination of the kneejoint, but magnetic resonance imaging showed hypointensity of the distal femur. Femoral biopsy revealed proliferation of long spindle-shaped fibrosarcoma cells, while a bone marrow biopsy of iliac bone (which appeared normal on radiographic examinations) showed replacement of hematopoietic cells by fibroblast-like spindle cells. A diagnosis of multiple diffuse fibrosarcoma of bone was therefore made. Autopsy revealed tumor invasion into multiple bones and several visceral organs and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. As this patient had leukoerythroblastic anemia with poikilocytosis, splenomegaly exhibiting extramedullary hematopoiesis, and apparent fibrotic change in his bone marrow, we suggest that this extremely rare disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of myelofibrosis.

Bone marrow involvement and obstructive jaundice in Farber lipogranulomatosis: clinical and autopsy report of a new case

We report a case of Farber lipogranulomatosis in a girl with hepatosplenomegaly, macular cherry-red spot, and subcutaneous nodules who developed liver dysfunction with jaundice and ascites, and myelophthisic anaemia because of infiltration of bone marrow with storage cells. Acid ceramidase assay confirmed the diagnosis. We conclude that the bone marrow dysfunction and cherry-red spot are features of type IV Farber lipogranulomatosis that have not been previously recognized, and should be added to the clinical phenotypic description.

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia as an initial presentation of metastatic cancer of unknown primary origin

Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) is a well-documented but rare complication of disseminated cancer; it usually occurs in the late or terminal stage of cancer. We describe a case of metastatic carcinoma of unknown origin in which MAHA was the initial presentation. A 36-year-old woman came to our hospital with lower back pain and progressive exertional dyspnea for 8 weeks. Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukoerythroblastosis were found on admission. The peripheral blood smear revealed polychromasia, poikilocytosis, and many schistocytes. Bone marrow biopsy disclosed metastatic carcinoma. After careful workup, we failed to find the primary site of cancer. The anemia and thrombocytopenia responded dramatically to combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and cisplatin. This case indicates that metastatic carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis in previously healthy patients with MAHA.

Biochemical values, complement levels, and hemostatic data in septic leukoerythroblastosis

Recently, the association of granulocytic fragments on blood smear with leukoerythroblastosis in sepsis has been identified in nine patients. Granulocytic fragments were identified by both light and electron microscopy as well as cytochemistry. Leukoerythroblastosis is a poorly defined, uncommon syndrome with leukocytosis, left shift, and nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) disproportionate to the degree of anemia, which may be associated with leukemia or neoplasia in the bone marrow, acute infection, hemolysis, myelofibrosis, or miscellaneous causes. Here a subgroup with high white blood cells (WBC) and acute infection was studied. The corrected WBC for nine patients was 40 x 10(9) per L with 33 nRBC per 100 WBC; serum C3 and C4 levels before and after the development of leukoerythroblastosis were 0.6 +/- 2 g per L; 0.18 +/- 0.04 g per L pre-leukoerythroblastosis and 0.7 +/- 0.46 g per L; 0.30 +/- 0.27 g per L post-leukoerythroblastosis, respectively, in four patients. The platelet count, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial prothrombin time (aPTT) were 133 x 10(9) per L, 24.4 sec., and 53.5 sec., respectively, for nine patients. Multiphasic chemistries at the time of leukoerythroblastosis were measured in five patients; abnormal values included calcium of 2.0 +/- 0.4 mmol per L, creatinine of 336 +/- 130 mumol per L, total protein of 45 +/- 17 g per L, albumin of 27 +/- 11 g per L, total bilirubin of 421 +/- 362 mumol per L, uric acid of 499 +/- 264 mumol per L, triglycerides of 4.9 +/- 3.7 mmol per L, and alkaline phosphatase of 3.5 +/- 1.0 mu kat per L.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and leukoerythroblastosis as the presenting form of a gastric adenocarcinoma]

Among the hematologic complications associated to cancer, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and leukoerythroblastosis are rarely reported together. We present the case of a patient with gastric adenocarcinoma that presented clinically with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and leukoerythroblastosis in peripheral blood as a result of metastatic invasion of the bone marrow. We discuss the probable etiopathogenic relation of these two entities with cancer, the therapeutic possibilities and the primary role of bone marrow biopsy and examination of the peripheral blood smear as more reliable diagnostic methods.

Bone marrow involvement in small cell lung cancer. Clinical significance and correlation with routine laboratory variables

Of 129 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who underwent bone marrow examination for staging, 39 (30%) had bone marrow involvement. Only three of 129 patients (2.3%) had bone marrow involvement as the only site of metastatic disease. When patients with bone marrow metastasis were compared with patients whose bone marrow was normal, there were significant differences in serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), albumin, and sodium (Na). We found no clinically significant difference in survival between patients with extensive disease with or without bone marrow involvement. Serum Na, albumin, SGOT, and uric acid were important prognostic determinants of survival. Based on the results of this study, we do not recommend routine bone marrow examinations in the staging of SCLC.

[A cancer of unknown primary site with diffuse metastasis to the bone marrow treated effectively with FAM combination chemotherapy]

A patient with cancer of unknown primary site suffering from diffuse bone marrow metastasis and DIC, was treated with FAM (5-fluorouracil, adriamycin and mitomycin C) combination chemotherapy. She was a 58-year-old housewife. Bone marrow biopsy revealed that her marrow tissue was completely replaced by cancer cells, and bone scintigraphy showed diffuse bone marrow metastasis in all the vertebrae, sternum, pelvic bones and skull. After 5 months administration of 3 courses of FAM therapy, the cancer cells were completely eradicated in the bone marrow upon biopsy taken at almost the same position as the previous one. The values of CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 125 were normalized, suggesting that this therapy was very effective.

Leukoerythroblastosis with blasts in a patient with alcoholic hepatitis

Leukemoid reactions are common in alcoholic hepatitis. We report a case of biopsy-proven alcoholic hepatitis with leukoerythroblastosis and blasts on the peripheral smear. We take this to be the second case of blasts and the first case of leukoerythroblastosis reported in a patient with alcoholic hepatitis.

[Development of polycythemia vera during chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis]

A case of typical idiopathic myelofibrosis turning into polycythaemia vera 6 years after diagnosis is reported. This transformation occurred after treatment with busulphan. The present case is added to similar previous observations to give further support to the contention that the transition of chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis to polycythaemia vera may be a consequence, though rare, of therapy rather than a spontaneous event occurring during the course of the disease.

Anemia in cancer

In summary, anemia developing in a patient with cancer can be due to several different factors. A relative failure of erythropoiesis, in conjunction with a modestly shortened erythrocyte survival, is the most likely explanation for the anemia and can occur in patients with or without bone marrow invasion. Several theories have been proposed to explain the mechanism of limited red cell production in cancer. Internal iron starvation and cancer toxic factors have been widely implicated. Immunoglobulin inhibitors of erythropoiesis occur in the rare entity, pure red cell aplasia, which is sometimes associated with thymomas. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia can also occur in patients with solid cancers, pointing out the need for a complete evaluation of anemia in any patient with recent-onset anemia. Successful treatment and prognostic implications of anemia in cancer is dependent on proper diagnosis.

Interpreting absolute WBC counts

The absolute count for a particular type of blood cell is the total white blood cell count multiplied by the differential percentage for that cell type. Neutrophilia is caused by increased marrow proliferation, redistribution among body neutrophil pools, stress and corticosteroids. Neutropenia is caused by decreased marrow proliferation, ineffective marrow production, reduced neutrophil survival and redistribution of neutrophils. Lymphocytosis is caused by chronic infections and allergic reactions, while lymphopenia is caused by increased lymphocyte destruction, neoplasia and lymphocyte loss. Monocytosis is associated with stress, infections, hematologic disorders, GI disease, necrosis and hemolysis. Eosinophilia is caused by allergic reactions, parasitism, skin diseases, neoplasia and adrenocortical insufficiency.

The role of myelofibrosis in malignant leukoerythroblastosis

This study examined the relationship of bone marrow pathology to the presence of leukoerythroblastosis in 67 patients with biopsy-proven metastatic bone marrow tumor. Both extensive tumor involvement (greater than 25% of marrow space) and severe myelofibrosis were more common in solid tumors than lymphomas. Twenty-eight of 45 solid tumor biopsies versus only 4/21 lymphoma biopsies showed both features (P less than 0.005). The presence of leukoerythroblastosis was more common in solid tumors than lymphomas and was associated with fibrosis but not tumor extent. Myelofibrosis appears to be important in the pathogenesis of leukoerythroblastosis.

Metastatic basal cell carcinoma of the skin. Metastasis to the skeletal system producing myelophthisic anemia

In the typical patient with a metastasizing basal cell carcinoma, the tumor is large, ulcerated, and has been neglected. Recurrences are common, and the tumor is usually refractory to all modalities of treatment. Our patient neglected to seek medical help for 10 years, at which time metastases were already present. Our case is unique because the metastases to the skeletal system produced a myelophthisic anemia.

Ulcerative colitis complicated by a leucoerythroblastic anaemia

Two cases of biopsy-proven ulcerative colitis are described, and both developed a leucoerythroblastic anaemia during the course of the acute illness. Despite intensive investigation for the presence of bone marrow infiltration, no neoplasm was demonstrated. The leucoerythroblastic anaemia remitted in each case on medical treatment of the ulcerative colitis. The possible mechanisms underlying the development of reversible leucoerythroblastic anaemia are discussed.

Coeliac disease presenting with a leuco-erythroblastic anaemia

A 49-year-old Irishman presented as an emergency with watery diarrhoea and a leuco-erythroblastic anaemia. Investigations showed that he had coeliac disease but no evidence of bone marrow infiltration. His leuco-erythroblastic picture disappeared on treatment with iron and folic acid.

Leukoerythroblastic reaction in Still disease in an adult

Images

Leuco-erythroblastosis following withdrawal from glucocorticoid therapy

Leuco-erythroblastosis has many known associations (Burkett, Cox and Fields, 1965; Weick, Hagedorn and Linman, 1974; Retief, 1964), but the only ones related to drug therapy are the well established response to haematinics (Burkett et al., 1965) and one possible case following anti-epileptic therapy (Retief, 1964). The case described below is of leuco-erythroblastosis following steroid withdrawal in a young man with primary polymyositis.

Neurological complications of osteopetrosis

The clinical course of twins with osteopetrosis has provided a catalogue of the neurological complications that may occur with the disorder. Such a list has not previously been compiled: (1) Hydrocephalus - probably due to outflow obstruction in the posterior fossa. (2) Sagittal sinus thrombosis - due to bony encroachment, or to hematological causes. (3) Exophthalmos - due to bony encroachment in the orbit. (4) Foraminal occlusion at the base of the skull, producing compromise of cranial nerves and vessels. (5) Paraparesis - cause unknown, perhaps due to spinal stenosis. (6) Anemia - myelophthisic, although a hemolytic component due to hypersplenism has been identified, as well.

Oxalosis. An unusual cause of myelophthisis in childhood

In a child with renal failure and oliguria due to hyperoxaluria myelophthisis developed as a result of extensive bone-marrow replacement with calcium oxalate crystals and an accompanying fibrous proliferations. The histopathology associated with this metabolic disorder was demonstrated in posterior iliac crest bone-marrow trephine biopsies, renal biopsies, and nephrectomy specimens. Crystals were demonstrated in biopsy specimens of transplanted kidneys within six weeks following renal transplantation.

Diminished bone marrow responsiveness to erythropoietin in myelophthisic anemia

The purpose of this study was to examine a mechanism which might explain the diminished erythropoiesis that occurs when tumor cells invade the bone marrow (myelophthisic anemia). To this end we compared 21 patients with neoplastic bone marrow invasion with seven normal subjects. When erythropoietin was added to bone marrow cell cultures from the normal subjects, the baseline rate of heme synthesis for a specific number of marrow erythroid cells increased 65%. In contrast, in patients with greater than 60% of the marrow replaced by tumor, the marrow cell culture response to erythropoietin was 14% above baseline. A significant inverse correlation was noted between the degree of marrow infiltration with tumor and the stimulation of heme synthesis with erythropoietin. It is proposed that marrow invasion with tumor may result in decreased marrow response to erythropoietin, and hence, diminished red cell production.