A Case of Precursor B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Occurre d with Rapid Hip Bone Destruction and Femoral Neck Fracture

Abstract

Background: Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is a rare subtype of acute lymphoblastic lymphoma and sometimes presents as lytic bone lesions. Diagnosis and treatment of lytic bone lesions are always challenging. This is a rare case of delayed leukemic change of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma presented with a rapid hip bone destruction. Case presentation: A 12-year-old Japanese girl presented with progressive left hip pain, and bone destruction of her left hip two months after the onset of symptoms. She had no past medical or family history of malignancy and had no genetic abnormality. Radiograph and MRI examination showed bone destruction and osteolytic lesions in her left femoral neck and pelvis. Blast cells were not found in our initial examination of the peripheral blood and aspirated bone marrow cells. The case was finally diagnosed as Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma as the results of bone biopsy, and blast cells were then detected after preforming multiple bone marrow aspirations. She also had pathological femoral neck fracture, but after treatment regimen by chemotherapy, her osteolytic lesions cured with obtainment of femoral neck fusion. She could walk at the final period. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of this disease for greater curing rates. Diagnosis of Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma was finally made based on the results of biopsy of tissues because of the delayed appearance of leukemic changes. Orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, when making diagnosis of patients exhibiting a rapid hip bone destruction.