Pediatric Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma with Concomitant Involvement of Spine and Central Nervous System: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Giulia A. Restivo,
Lara Mussolin,
Paolo D’Angelo,
Angela Trizzino,
Salvatore Ialuna,
Elena Sabattini,
Cristina Gallo,
Angelo Toscano,
Elisa Carraro,
Marta Pillon,
Piero Farruggia
Affiliations
Giulia A. Restivo
Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Lara Mussolin
Clinic of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Paolo D’Angelo
Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, ARNAS Ospedali Civico, G. Di Cristina, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Angela Trizzino
Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, ARNAS Ospedali Civico, G. Di Cristina, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Salvatore Ialuna
Nuclear Medicine Unit, Ospedali Riuniti Villa Sofia-Cervello, 90146 Palermo, Italy
Elena Sabattini
Haematopathology Unit, Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
Cristina Gallo
Radiology Unit, Radiology Department, A.R.N.A.S. Ospedali Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Angelo Toscano
General Orthopedic, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
Elisa Carraro
Clinic of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Marta Pillon
Clinic of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy
Piero Farruggia
Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, ARNAS Ospedali Civico, G. Di Cristina, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a histological subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, largely characterized by anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positivity, resulting from the chromosomal translocation t(2;5). We report a pediatric case of ALK-positive ALCL with primary concomitant involvement of bone and central nervous system (CNS); thereafter, a literature review about pediatric primary bone and primary CNS ALCL was conducted. According to the analyzed data, our case is unique because it is characterized by the contemporary involvement of the spine and CNS. During and after chemotherapy, our patient was monitored by detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) through the analysis of fusion transcript nucleophosmin-ALK. MRD assessment, not only in bone marrow but also in peripheral blood, seems to be a very powerful tool for predicting the prognosis of pediatric ALCL patients, as already described in the literature. Moreover, as shown in our case, it could be used during the follow-up for early recognition of relapse.
