Blueberry Muffin Syndrome and Hyperleukocytosis in a Newborn: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Blueberry muffin syndrome (BMS) in neonates, characterized by widespread nodular lesions, presents diagnostic challenges due to its diverse etiologies. Hyperleukocytosis, with leukocyte counts exceeding 100,000/µL, is a rare phenomenon associated with severe complications in neonates. Congenital leukemia (CL), a rare diagnosis within the first month of life, is linked to high mortality. This case report presents a unique case of BMS with hyperleukocytosis as the initial presentation of CL. A full-term male newborn, born after an uncomplicated pregnancy, except for Kell isoimmunization, with an Apgar score of 9/10, and an irrelevant family history, showed widespread purple nodules consistent with BMS at birth. Laboratory workup revealed mild anemia, hyperleukocytosis with immature granulocytes on peripheral blood (PB) smear, positive direct antiglobulin test, and elevated alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase, without hyperbilirubinemia. Empirical antibiotics and hyperhydration were started, and the neonate was transferred to a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit for further evaluation. A comprehensive etiological investigation was conducted, comprising infectious, immunological, metabolic, and neoplastic factors. A skin nodule biopsy revealed an infiltrate of blast cells, indicative of leukemia cutis, and a bone marrow aspirate confirmed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The patient successfully completed the NOPHO-DBH-2012 chemotherapy protocol at five months and remains in complete remission at nine months. This case report contributes to the literature by highlighting the diagnostic approach and management strategies for CL presenting with BMS and hyperleukocytosis. This case aims to enhance awareness and understanding of BMS as an initial manifestation of CL. Additionally, the challenges of treating leukemia in neonates, coupled with the lack of specific guidelines for this age group, further underscore the complexities in managing such patients.

Childhood Hypopigmented Mycosis Fungoides: A Rare Diagnosis.

Primary cutaneous lymphomas (PCL) are rare in pediatrics. Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most frequent PCL diagnosed in childhood. There are various clinical variants of MF, including the hypopigmented MF (HMF). We present a 5-year-old boy with an 18-month history of progressive, generalized, nonpruritic hypopigmented lesions with central lacy erythema. He had no improvement with emollients. Skin biopsy showed typical features of HMF. He was treated with topical corticosteroids and tacrolimus and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NBUVB) phototherapy, with good response. HMF may mimic multiple skin disorders. Unusual hypopigmented skin lesions should be biopsied. Though phototherapy is effective, recurrence is common.

Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Hodgkin's Disease: An Unusual Pediatric Association.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a recognized complication of lymphoproliferative disorders. AIHA associated with Hodgkin's disease (HD) is uncommon especially in the pediatric population. The diagnosis of AIHA is usually associated with HD at the time of initial presentation or during the course of disease, but it could precede it by years to months. In adults the association of AIHA and HD is more frequent in advanced stages and in the nodular sclerosis and mixed cellularity type HD. Warm immune hemolytic anemia is mainly controlled with steroids and chemotherapy. We report a case of a pediatric patient with direct antiglobulin positive test at the diagnosis of a late relapse of stage III B mixed cellularity type HD.

Genetic and clinical characterization of 45 acute leukemia patients with MLL gene rearrangements from a single institution.

Chromosomal rearrangements affecting the MLL gene are associated with high-risk pediatric, adult and therapy-associated acute leukemia. In this study, conventional cytogenetic, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and molecular genetic studies were used to characterize the type and frequency of MLL rearrangements in a consecutive series of 45 Portuguese patients with MLL-related leukemia treated in a single institution between 1998 and 2011. In the group of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and an identified MLL fusion partner, 47% showed the presence of an MLL-AFF1 fusion, as a result of a t(4;11). In the remaining cases, a MLL-MLLT3 (27%), a MLL-MLLT1 (20%), or MLL-MLLT4 (7%) rearrangement was found. The most frequent rearrangement found in patients with acute myeloid leukemia was the MLL-MLLT3 fusion (42%), followed by MLL-MLLT10 (23%), MLL-MLLT1 (8%), MLL-ELL (8%), MLL-MLLT4 (4%), and MLL-MLLT11 (4%). In three patients, fusions involving MLL and a septin family gene (SEPT2, SEPT6, and SEPT9), were identified. The most frequently identified chromosomal rearrangements were reciprocal translocations, but insertions and deletions, some cryptic, were also observed. In our series, patients with MLL rearrangements were shown to have a poor prognosis, regardless of leukemia subtype. Interestingly, children with 1 year or less showed a statistically significant better overall survival when compared with both older children and adults. The use of a combined strategy in the initial genetic evaluation of acute leukemia patients allowed us to characterize the pattern of MLL rearrangements in our institution, including our previous discovery of two novel MLL fusion partners, the SEPT2 and CT45A2 genes, and a very rare MLL-MLLT4 fusion variant.

[Burkitt's lymphoma]. / Linfoma de Burkitt.

BACKGROUND: Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a highly aggressive B-cell neoplasm characterized by the translocation and deregulation of the c-myc gene on chromosome 8. Three distinct clinical forms of BL are recognized: endemic, sporadic, and human immunodeficiency-associated. BL is a rapidly growing neoplasm requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment. AIM: We described and analyzed our experience with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) diagnosis, treatment and outcome, during ten years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study; clinical records of all children admitted with BL between 1st January 1998 and 31st December 2008 were analyzed. The following data were collected: age at admission, gender, clinical presentation, and time elapsed from initial complaints until diagnosis, disease localization, treatment and evolution. RESULTS: During the time period 21 children were admitted (19 boys), seven (33.3%) of which were diagnosed in 2008. The median age at diagnosis was seven years with a mean delay to diagnosis of 20,8 days (range 2-125 days). The most frequent site of primitive tumour was the abdomen (13), followed by tonsils (three), orbit (one), central nervous system CNS (two), tongue (one) and nasopharynx (one). The majority of patients in our study were presenting with a painfull abdominal mass. Diagnosis was established through tumour biopsy in 17 children, three by paracentesis or toracocentesis and one case was diagnosed only by genetic tests to the bone marrow. Genetic tests were positive in 11 patients. According to the Murphy classification, there were three stage II, 12 stage III and six stage IV tumours; 29% and 19% had bone marrow and central nervous system involvement, respectively. One child relapsed and was successfully treated with Rituximab® and autologous stem cell transplantation. The overall survival rate was 100%.

Anaphylactoid reaction to high-dose methotrexate and re-administration after a successful desensitization.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an antimetabolite with a major role in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). The authors report the management of a 9-year-old boy who developed an anaphylactoid reaction to high-dose MTX infusion, after a first challenge with intrathecal administration, during induction therapy for ALL. A desensitization protocol was followed and MTX tolerance has been successfully achieved, allowing this patient to complete the needed chemotherapy.