Thalassemia, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and spinal cord compression: A case report

Abstract

Background:

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) refers to hematopoiesis outside of the medulla of the bone. Chronic anemia states such as thalassemia can cause hematopoietic tissue to expand in certain locations. We report a case of spinal cord compression due to recurrent spinal epidural EMH, which was treated with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. Pakistan has one of the highest incidence and prevalence of thalassemia in the world. We describe published literature on diagnosis and management of such cases.

Case Description:

An 18-year-old male presented with bilateral lower limb paresis. He was a known case of homozygous beta thalassemia major. He had undergone surgery for spinal cord compression due to EMH 4 months prior to presentation. Symptom resolution was followed by deterioration 5 days later. He was operated again at our hospital with complete resection of the mass. He underwent local radiotherapy to prevent recurrence. At 2 years follow-up, he showed complete resolution of symptoms. Follow-up imaging demonstrated no residual mass.

Conclusion:

The possibility of EMH should be considered in every patient with ineffective erythropoiesis as a cause of spinal cord compression. Treatment of such cases is usually done with blood transfusions, which can reduce the hematopoietic drive for EMH. Other options include surgery, hydroxyurea, radiotherapy, or a combination of these on a case to case basis.

INTRODUCTION

Thalassemia is an autosomal recessive disorder which leads to a chronic form of anemia. Pakistan is included in the list of countries with the highest incidence and prevalence of thalassemia in the world, with estimated 5000–9000 children born each year with the condition.[4] There is no unified directory present for the number of people living with the condition but estimates put this number at 5–7% of the general population, which is 11 million people, living on regular blood transfusions.[1,3] According to Trehan et al., half of the patients diagnosed at their hospital had ancestors hailing from Pakistan.[28] Although control programs in other high-incidence regions have resulted in lowered incidence, the community structure, marriage practices, and lack of education are major hurdles in an effective control system for the disease. This has resulted in a large number of patients presenting with long-term complications.[4,6,14]

Thalassemia treatment in Pakistan is almost always periodic whole blood transfusions coupled with iron chelation.[22] Bone marrow transplantation has been used as a curative treatment in patients; however, this avenue is limited for a low-income country like Pakistan especially in the context of a very large patient load.[11,17,27] Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a well-recognized complication of conditions with ineffective hematopoiesis which results in production of blood elements outside the bone marrow with expansion into normal tissues. EMH most commonly involves the paravertebral areas followed by the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.[25,29]

Involvement of the spinal cord can be due to EMH in the epidural space or paraspinal muscles with extension into the spinal canal. The usual location of compression is the thoracic spine due to a currently unidentified mechanism, but certain theories have been suggested.[12,21] Being a relatively rare cause of spinal cord compression, management guidelines do not exist. However, treatments that have been tried and found to be effective are hydroxyurea, hyper transfusion, radiotherapy, surgical decompressive laminectomy, or a combination of these[7,8,13,19] and around half of all patients presenting with cord compression will improve on blood transfusions alone. We present a case of a thalassemic patient with thoracic spinal cord compression treated with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy and review the diagnosis and management of such patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

First surgery and initial presentation

An 18-year-old male patient presented to the neurosurgical clinic with the weakness of both lower limbs and inability to walk for the past 3 months. He had been operated in December of 2011, 4 months prior to presentation at another hospital to relieve paraplegia due to spinal cord compression. He regained full neurological function following the surgery for a period of 5 days after which he progressively declined until he lost function in both legs again. During this period, he underwent regular rehabilitative physiotherapy. Neurological examination showed spastic paraparesis with increased tone in both lower limbs. Power was 0/5. Deep tendon reflexes were 3+ bilaterally in the lower limbs. The sensory level was T12/L1. He was continent for urine and stool and anal tone was normal. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with multi planar imaging of the spine done at presentation [Figures 1 and 2] showed extensive epidural masses appearing slightly hyperintense on T1-weighted (T1W) image and isointense to adjacent bone on T2-weighted (T2W) image, involving the posterior aspect of the spinal canal at the level of T6–T11. Similar lesions were seen extending from L2 to L5. These masses were indenting the spinal cord from its posterior aspect and displacing it anteriorly. Maximum compression was seen at the level of T9–T10 with almost complete obliteration of the spinal canal and extension into the intervertebral foramina with nerve root compression. All vertebral bodies showed low to intermediate signal intensity signifying replacement of fatty marrow with hematopoietic tissue. There were no other abnormalities with the intervertebral discs or paravertebral tissue.

Figure 1.

Preoperative T1- and T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine

Figure 2.

Preoperative T1- and T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine

Review of his available record from the first surgery revealed homozygous beta thalassemia major diagnosed in 1995, treated with regular blood transfusions and iron chelation. Unfortunately, the patient had lost his imaging studies done during his first surgery but reports if the studies were available. His laboratory work showed the following to be outside of normal limits; Hb% 8.5 g%, platelets 130,000/mm³, total bilirubin raised to 2.0 mg/dl (normal value up to 1.0 mg/dl), and alanine aminotransferase raised to 59 IU/L (normal up to 40 IU/L). An ultrasound of the abdomen done, at the time, showed moderately enlarged liver and spleen with no focal lesions, discounting the presence of EMH in these organs. An MRI done prior to the first surgery showed a single extra dural mass extending from T6 to L3, which appeared isointense to hyperintense on T1W and isointense on T2W. The location was posterior and toward the left side with displacement of the spinal cord anteriorly and toward the right. Subtle widening of the left exit canal was noted. Postcontrast images showed the lesion to be heterogeneously enhancing. These scans were unfortunately not available to the patient, but the radiology report was. The patient had undergone open surgery, and three “extradural tumor” specimens had been removed from level T2 to L3. Histopathology revealed normal bone with EMH and no evidence of granulomatous inflammation or malignancy.

Second surgery

The patient was offered repeat surgery since he had shown complete resolution after his first surgery. The patient was placed in prone position with pads and gel foams to achieve a more comfortable position and to prevent pressure necrosis. A dorsal midline skin incision was made exactly over the previous incision. Bilateral laminectomies were done from T4 to T10 with sparing of the facet joints. The affected tissue appeared to be a dark reddish color and moderately adherent to the dura mater of the spinal cord. The masses were peeled away completely from the dura with ease, and no inadvertent durotomy was experienced. Blood loss was about 600 ml with the patient receiving packed cells during surgery. He had an uneventful recovery postoperatively with no complications. He was discharged on postoperative day 5.

Histopathology of the resected tissue revealed bony trabecule with intervening hematopoietic tissue showing hypercellularity with erythroid and myeloid precursors and megakaryocytes. There was no evidence of malignancy.

Postoperative radiotherapy

Follow-up at 1 month showed improved strength in both lower limbs (4+/5) with 2+ reflexes, and he was able to walk with support. He was referred to the Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Peshawar, where he underwent two cycles of low dose radiotherapy in January 2013 to prevent recurrence. Follow-up at 2 years in October 2014 revealed he had completely recovered strength in both lower limbs and was able to walk without support and was able to function independently. He returned to his job as a computer operator for a private company during this time. MRI done at this time showed no evidence of residual mass or spinal cord compression [Figures 3 and 4].

Figure 3.

Postoperative T2-weighted sagittal magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine showing no evidence of spinal cord compression

Figure 4.

Postperative T1- and T2-weighted axial magnetic resonance imaging of the thoracolumbar spine

DISCUSSION

Thalassemia is a chronic anemia state that is most often recognized with EMH with the first description of resulting spinal cord compression reported by Gatto et al.[10] Other disorders associated with EMH include chronic anemias such as sickle cell disease, myeloproliferative disorders, and hepatocellular carcinoma as well.[20] The incidence of EMH with thalassemia in international literature is decidedly rare with a reported incidence of 0.8%, but with an estimated 11 million carriers in Pakistan, this makes it a considerable number.[3] Every year, more than 4000 children are born destined to become dependent on blood transfusions. Thalassemic patients with EMH usually present in reproductive age. There is a predilection for involvement of the thoracic cord region for reasons that are not completely understood. Some authors believe that this is due to stem cells that have leaked out of the expanding marrow and into the epidural space.[16]

Formulating the diagnosis

The diagnosis of spinal cord compression due to EMH is usually made by a variety of factors. There is usually a history of chronic hemolytic or anemic disease; however, exceptions have been reported.[23] Additional evidence can be sought in the form of hepatosplenomegaly. Well, demarcated paraspinal masses may be visible on plain radiographs. Bony destruction resulting in pathological fractures may be absent.[15] MRI studies are currently the gold standard for diagnosis. According to Alorainy et al., the appearance of EMH varies depending on whether they are mixed with epidural fat (heterogenous) or whether they have completely replaced it (homogenous). On T1W imagining, EMH is always hyperintense to the spinal cord and to the infiltrated marrow space. It is also hyperintense on T2W imaging unless there is excessive iron in the tissue in which case it will be hypointense. Gadolinium enhancement has been found to be unpredictable despite the tissue being highly vascular with patterns varying from no enhancement to strong enhancement. Differentiation from epidural lymphoma can be facilitated by a history of a hematological condition.[2,9,16,18] In the absence of availability or contraindication to the use of an MRI, a computed tomography (CT) scan can be used. A tissue diagnosis can be obtained via CT-guided needle biopsy which carries a significant risk for hemorrhage and neurological deterioration especially in cases where they are epidural in location. CT myelograms are no longer recommended for the same reason with reports of worsening symptoms.[26]

Treatment considerations

Treatment options for EMH include surgery, radiotherapy, blood transfusion, and hydroxyurea. Our management of the patient involved a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, and regular transfusions.[26] Our decision to combine radiotherapy surgical decompression was influenced by the fact that his symptoms had recurred despite a previous decompression which had led to resolution of his symptoms. Since his symptoms were not fully responsive with blood transfusions alone, we felt it was important to decrease the likelihood of recurrence in order to avoid further surgery. Like any acute spinal condition, prompt decompression results in almost entire resolution of the symptoms. In cases of acute compression with paraplegia or paraparesis, surgical decompression is warranted. An open procedure with laminectomies and multi-level decompression is known to be effective. An excellent alternative to open surgery is a minimally invasive approach involving 3 or 4, one inch long incisions along the posterior midline with each incision being used to reach four adjacent levels. Hemilaminotomies are performed with the mass removed piecemeal. This has the distinct advantage of reducing postoperative morbidity and spinal instability.[24]

Patients who have had a more insidious onset of symptoms are preferably treated with more conservative approach with blood transfusions, hydroxyurea, or radiotherapy as a first line treatment, which leads to regression of the EMH. Any one of these is a viable option with comparative studies not yet available.[13]

Lessons from Pakistan

In a low-income country like Pakistan, blood transfusions seem to be the most cost effective treatment with hydroxyurea obviating the risks associated with blood transfusions. We feel that a collaborative effort is needed in this regard to map out a unified algorithm for the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of these patients. Moreover, future risk assessment in these patients is warranted.

Recently, a trend toward education and prenatal diagnosis has led to improved knowledge about thalassemia among both the general population and among families with children suffering from the disease.[5] Pakistan has one of the highest incidence and prevalence of thalassemia in the world. With an ever increasing number of patients and a growing number of blood donation programs from the government as well as nongovernmental organizations, we are faced with seeing long-term complications of thalassemia that were not seen a decade ago. A neurosurgeon must be vigilant to recognize and treat such patients to prevent long-lasting disability.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with chronic hematopoietic disorders who suddenly present with spinal cord compression symptoms should be evaluated for EMH since these patients can successfully be treated with blood transfusions without resorting to surgery. Despite a large number of patients at risk for developing this complication every year, there is no algorithm in place in Pakistan to manage them. The current preference is blood transfusions while some surgeons recommend surgical decompression. For the best algorithm, the jury is still out.

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.