Development of aceptic osteonecrosis during the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia: review of the literature and original data

Abstract

We report a case of aceptic osteonecrosis (AON) of the left hymerus epiphysis in programmed treatment of a male patient with lymphoblastic lymphoma to illustrate clinical, laboratory, epidemiological, pathogenetic, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of AON in programmed therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We believe that AON is a rather frequent but often missed for early diagnosis complication of ALL treatment. Even a weak pain in bones and joints under mechanical load in patients on long-term treatment with glucocorticosteroids is an alarming symptom which may indicate a risk of an osteodestructive process and relevant diagnostic and therapeutic measures may be needed.

Keywords

• aceptic osteonecrosis
• acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• complications
• glucocorticosteroids