"PATHOLOGIC FRACTURE OF THREE EXTREMITIES AS FIRST SIGN OF ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA "

Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common form of childhood cancer representing 80-85% of all leukemia. We describe a 3 years old girl with pain, swelling and tenderness in extremities since 8 months prior to her present admission. X-ray of extremities revealed callus formation, osteopenia and site of healed fractures. Bone marrow aspiration revealed ALL-L2 with normal peripheral smear. It is important for physician to recognize the skeletal manifestations of acute leukemia of childhood because a delay in diagnosis has an adverse effect on survival.