Bing-Neel syndrome: a case report and systematic review of clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment options.

BACKGROUND: Bing-Neel syndrome is an extremely rare neurologic complication of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) that was first described in 1936. It is associated with central nervous system infiltration by neoplastic lymphoplasmacytoid and plasma cells with or without cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hyperglobulinemia. CASE REPORT: We report a case of a 69-year-old white man with a 10-year history of WM. He was diagnosed with Bing-Neel syndrome based on magnetic resonance imaging and pathology studies of CSF. In addition, a comprehensive review of the reported cases of Bing-Neel syndrome in the up-to-date English-language literature was performed. RESULTS: Our patient underwent successful treatment with cranial radiation and intrathecal chemotherapy. He has been in clinical and pathologic remission for 3 years following the completion of his treatment. Based on our literature review, we also summarize and discuss clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment options for Bing-Neel syndrome. CONCLUSION: Bing-Neel syndrome is a rare and potentially treatable complication of WM. Patients with a history of WM presenting with neurologic symptoms should be evaluated for possible Bing-Neel syndrome. Cranial radiation therapy alone or in combination with intrathecal chemotherapy is more likely to achieve sustainable remission than intrathecal chemotherapy alone.

Phase III randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of risedronate for the prevention of bone loss in premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy for primary breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Risedronate prevents bone loss in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study was to determine whether risedronate prevents bone loss in premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Premenopausal women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer were treated with oral calcium 600 mg and vitamin D 400 U daily and randomly assigned to receive oral risedronate 35 mg weekly or placebo, with all these therapies beginning within a month of the start of chemotherapy. Most chemotherapy regimens included anthracyclines, taxanes, or cyclophosphamide. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at baseline and 1 year. The primary end point was the change in lumbar spine (LS) BMD from baseline to 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 216 women enrolled; 170 women provided BMD data at 1 year. There was no difference in the mean change or percent change in LS BMD between groups, with a loss of 4.3% in the risedronate arm and 5.4% for placebo at 1 year (P = .18). Loss of BMD at the femoral neck and total hip were also similar between treatment groups. Risedronate was well tolerated, with no significant differences in adverse events compared with placebo, except that arthralgias and chest pain were worse in those receiving the placebos. CONCLUSION: Risedronate did not prevent bone loss in premenopausal women undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.