Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis mimicking late CNS relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: case report
2007

Case of Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis After Bone Marrow Transplant

publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Kumar Ram, Nijalingappa Shobha, Grainger John, Ismayl Omar

Primary Institution: Royal Manchester Children's Hospital

Hypothesis

Could the girl's ADEM be related to her bone marrow transplantation?

Conclusion

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute encephalomyelopathy after bone marrow transplantation for leukaemia.

Supporting Evidence

  • The girl had a history of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant.
  • Neuroimaging showed multifocal lesions consistent with ADEM.
  • CSF analysis excluded a relapse of leukaemia.

Takeaway

A girl who had a bone marrow transplant got very sick with a brain problem that looked like her cancer coming back, but it was actually a different illness called ADEM.

Methodology

The case was diagnosed through clinical presentation, neuroimaging, and exclusion of other diagnoses.

Limitations

The study is based on a single case report, limiting generalizability.

Participant Demographics

A 13-year-old girl.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1752-1947-1-4

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