[Polyradicular neural syndrome in a patient with leukemic variant of malignant histiocytosis]. / Zespól wielokorzeniowonerwowy u chorego z bialaczkowa postacia zlosliwej histiocytozy.

Malignant histiocytosis is rapidly progressive, fatal disorder characterised by systemic proliferation of abnormal histiocytic cells. We report a case of a 23-year old patient with leukaemia variant of malignant histiocytosis and nervous system involvement as polyradiculoneural syndrome. The leukaemia variant as well as nervous system involvement are extremely rare in malignant histiocytosis.

Does a spasm of vertebral canal exist?

During myelographic examination the travel of a contrast medium through the vertebral canal can be observed when it is applied by the lumbar puncture. When the vertebral canal is totally obstructed the contrast medium stops at the verge of the closing forming sometimes (in case of tumours) concave meniscus. In case of incomplete block of the canal the contrast medium flows around the obstacle. Results of myelographic examination do not leave much room for doubts as to the character of discovered disease process. They are very often confirmed during follow up computer tomography imaging of the suitable segment of the spinal column. In some patients being under clinical observation in this Department of Neurology, however, it was difficult to arrive at a specific diagnosis on the basis of the examination of their vertebral canal by means of the contrast medium in spite of the abnormalities observed repeatably and the concomitant severe progressive lessions of their spinal cords.