Recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia with bone marrow necrosis: A case report and review of the literature on the MRI features of bone marrow necrosis

Abstract

Bone marrow necrosis (BMN) is a rare but important complication of hematological malignancies. We report the case of a 52-year-old male patient with a recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accompanied by BMN. After re-induction therapy, bone marrow aspiration (BMA) and biopsy from the iliac bone showed necrotic cells and eosinophilic debris, respectively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed heterogeneous signals in the bilateral iliac bone, possibly reflecting various stages of BMN. BMA from the sternum eventually revealed the recurrence of ALL after a few weeks. Comprehensive assessments, including MRI and repeated bone marrow tests, are required when evaluating the underlying hematological malignancies of patients with BMN.