A Unique Case of Extramedullary Relapse in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Testicular to Ocular, Cardiac, and Colonic Involvement and the Role of Sperm Phenotyping in Diagnosis—Case Report and Literature Review
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant condition of lymphoid progenitor cells that primarily affects the pediatric population, but also adults. The 5-year survival rate is 90% in children and approximately 40% in adults, with survival increasing through the use of peripheral stem cell allotransplantation (SCT). The relapse rate after stem cell transplantation (SCT) in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients ranges from 35% to 45%, making relapse a major cause of death in this population. <b>Background:</b> We present an atypical case of late testicular involvement in ALL in a 50-year-old man diagnosed with ALL pro-T in remission post-chemotherapy (GMALL 2003 protocol) and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) from a related donor. <b>Methods:</b> This case describes a 50-year-old male with ALL pro-T who experienced three rare extramedullary relapses post-chemotherapy and alloSCT. Five years after remission, he had a unilateral testicular relapse confirmed by immunophenotyping of spermatic fluid. <b>Results:</b> Despite no bone marrow involvement, he was treated with chemotherapy, intrathecal therapy, and bilateral testicular radiotherapy. He later relapsed in the orbit, controlled by radiotherapy, followed by a third relapse in the heart and colon. <b>Conclusions:</b> This case highlights the unusual sites and consecutive nature of extramedullary relapses in adult ALL.
Authors
- Claudiu Matei
- Alina Camelia Cătană
- Maria-Gabriela Catană (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4392-8522)
- Ariela Olteanu
- Zsofia Varady
- Elena Mihai
- A Moicean
- Minodora Teodoru (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1121-3788)
- Liliana Mocanu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0591-2511)
- Mariana Sandu
- Chaudhry Qamar Ul Haq Noor
- Renata Zahu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3217-0630)
- Geanina Mera
- Lidia Mondoc
Institutions
- Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (RO)
- Clinical Emergency Hospital Bucharest (RO)
- Stockholm South General Hospital (SE)
- Institutul Clinic Fundeni (RO)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Clinical Medicine
- Published
- 2025-01-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14020405
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.88