Spinal Cord Compression Secondary to Extramedullary Hematopoiesis: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Authors

Arthur Wang, New York Medical CollegeFollow
Nathan Carberry, New York Medical CollegeFollow
Elena Solli, New York Medical CollegeFollow
John Gillick, New York Medical CollegeFollow
Humayun Islam, New York Medical CollegeFollow
Virany Hillard, New York Medical CollegeFollow

First Page

290

Last Page

297

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2016

Department

Neurosurgery

Second Department

Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology

Abstract

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a rare cause of spinal cord compression (SCC). EMH represents the growth of blood cells outside of the bone marrow and occurs in a variety of hematologic illnesses, including various types of anemia and myeloproliferative disorders. Although EMH usually occurs in the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, it may also occur within the spinal canal. When this occurs, the mass effect can compress the spinal cord, potentially leading to the development of neurological deficits. We present a case of SCC secondary to EMH. This report illustrates the importance of considering EMH in the differential diagnosis of SCC, even in the absence of signs of its most common etiologies.

Recommended Citation

Wang, A., Carberry, N., Solli, E., Gillick, J., Islam, H., & Hillard, V. (2016). Spinal cord compression secondary to extramedullary hematopoiesis: Case report and review of the literature. Case Reports in Oncology, 9(2), 290-297. doi:10.1159/000446473

Publisher's Statement

Originally published in Case Reports in Oncology. Licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0. https://doi.org/10.1159/000446473