Abstract
Acute biphenotypic leukaemia (BAL) is an uncommon haematological malignancy with features
of myeloid and lymphoid origin and poor overall prognosis. We report a 68-year-old
man who presented with rapidly progressive upper thoracic spinal cord compression
secondary to an extradural lesion. A T2–3 decompressive laminectomy with tumour excision
was performed. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of acute biphenotypic (B/myeloid)
leukaemia. The patient had only minor post-operative improvement in pyramidal lower
limb weakness. He succumbed to the disease three months post-diagnosis after failing
induction chemotherapy. While central nervous system involvement with acute leukaemia
is well recognised, this is the first reported patient with spinal cord compression
secondary to this leukaemia subtype.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 30,
2009
Received:
March 21,
2009
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
