The role of radiation therapy in the management of hematopoietic neurologic complications in thalassemia.
Extramedullary hematopoiesis is encountered in some severe anemic conditions. Very rarely it may cause neurologic symptoms, leading to spinal cord or cauda equina compression. Two patients with thalassemia who developed neurologic complications are described. Diagnosis was based on clinical findings, CT scan and magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI). The two patients responded successfully to irradiation and blood transfusion. The prognosis is excellent, if recognized at an early stage. Our experience supports the role of radiation therapy as standard treatment for this complication.
Kaufmann
T
T
Division of Radiation Oncology, New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, New York.
Coleman
M
M
Giardina
P
P
Nisce
L Z
LZ
D000328:Adult; D002420:Cauda Equina; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006411:Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed