Infiltration of Round Blue Cell Tumors in Bone Marrow

Abstract

Objective: To identify different types of round blue cell tumors on bone marrow biopsy and their pattern of marrow infiltration.

Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Hematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP), Rawalpindi, from July 2021 to December 2021. A total of 60 diagnosed cases of round blue cell tumors were included. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and those receiving treatment for round blue cell tumors were excluded. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were performed. Peripheral film results, clinical observations, and patterns of marrow infiltration of round blue cell malignancies were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.

Results: The study revealed a male to female ratio of 2:1, with 40 (66.6%) males and 20 (33.3%) females. The overall average age was 5.69 ± 5.0 years. Ewing sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma patients did not exhibit infiltration, while three instances of retinoblastoma (9.37%) and two cases of neuroblastoma (10.52%) did. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results for synaptophysin and chromogranin were positive for retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma, while S100 results were positive for neuroblastoma infiltration and negative for retinoblastoma. Both retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma showed diffuse, focal, and interstitial patterns of infiltration on trephine biopsy.

Conclusion: Small round blue cell tumors were noted in bone marrow infiltration in 5 (8.33%) cases. Early detection of malignant cancers necessitates appropriate medical care, and in more severe cases, the need for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.