title: Spinal involvement with spinal cord compression syndrome in hematological diseases.
abstract: Primary spinal involvement in hematological diseases is rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is studying diagnostic and treatment strategies in patients with spinal cord primary hematologic tumors causing spinal cord compression syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two cases with spinal cord primary hematologic tumors causing spinal cord compression syndrome. One patient had a diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma located in the thoracic spine and the second patient had a plasmocytic plasmacytoma located in the thoraco-lumbar spine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patients underwent surgery, with resection of the intracanalar tumor and spinal cord decompression and adjuvant systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy. Neurological outcome was favorable with partial remission of spinal cord compression syndrome. Finally, patients developed secondary dissemination and succumbed due to progression of the hematological disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical onset and radiographic evaluation is uncharacteristic in early stages. Spinal MRI is mandatory in cases with rebel pain, unresponsive to conservative treatment. Surgery is indicated in all patients with spinal cord compression syndrome. Early diagnosis is associated with better prognosis. Recommended treatment is surgical resection and systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy adapted to histological form of each tumor. In selected cases, if indicated radiotherapy can also be associated.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Emergency County Hospital, Pitesti.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Viola
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Popov
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dobrea
authors.forename: Aurelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sandu
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Grigorean
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strâmbu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000473:pathology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000473:pathology*; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*