ISSN:
1432-0584
Keywords:
Key words Acute myelofibrosis
;
Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia
;
Scintigraphy
;
Magnetic resonance imaging
;
Interferon gamma
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Acute myelofibrosis is a rare, malignant hematological disorder of unknown etiology with an inevitably fatal outcome. Here we present the study of a 63-year-old Caucasian man with acute onset of pancytopenia. Repeated bone marrow biopsies showed dense fibrosis and hypoplastic hematopoiesis raising various differential diagnoses of malignant and nonmalignant conditions. Bone marrow scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed areas suggesting neoplastic infiltration, mainly in both femurs and tibias. Histological examination of a surgical biopsy of the left tibia revealed acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. As the patient refused polychemotherapy, therapy with interferon gamma was initiated but discontinued prematurely because of intolerable side effects. The presented case therefore suggests that the combination of bone marrow scintigraphy and MRI is a valuable diagnostic tool in patients presenting with myelofibrosis of unknown origin.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002770050593
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