title: Tunneling Schmorl's nodes in an elderly woman treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: We present a 70-year-old woman with pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia in whom serial imaging studies showed the development of multiple vertebral collapse, and communicating superior and inferior Schmorl's nodes creating a longitudinal channel ("tunneling" Schmorl's nodes) through the anterior aspect of T12 to L3 vertebral bodies of her osteoporotic thoracolumbar spine. This was observed after achieving complete remission of the disease and during maintenance therapy. The finding is felt to be secondary to iatrogenic exacerbation of osteoporosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Catholic University, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerase
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Equitani
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pagano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013169:Spondylolysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology