Spinal involvement with spinal cord compression syndrome in hematological diseases.

UNLABELLED: Primary spinal involvement in hematological diseases is rare.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is studying diagnostic and treatment strategies in patients with spinal cord primary hematologic tumors causing spinal cord compression syndrome.

PATIENTS AND 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.