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What Does Spinal Tap Showing Abnormal Cells Indicate?
Question: A 3 year old boy has the spleen and liver swollen, with high fevers of at least 100F reaching unto 108 which stays up until the doctor brings it down by ice/baths.
The spinal tap is done which shows its either leukaemia or lymphoma, now awaiting for the bone marrow biopsy results.
Could it be something else except leukaemia or lymphoma?
The spinal tap is done which shows its either leukaemia or lymphoma, now awaiting for the bone marrow biopsy results.
Could it be something else except leukaemia or lymphoma?
Brief Answer:
other causes are also likely
Detailed Answer:
sorry to hear that spinal tap showed abnormal cells. Generally pathologist are very cautious in interpreting malignancy reports and a report conclusive of leukemia is not given when in doubt. you have not mentioned anything about peripheralsmear report. Leukemic cells usually show up in CBP report. Of course bone marrow gives confirmatory diagnosis.
Yes, other possibilities are also there apart from cancer. most probable is tuberculosis and viral illnesses. both can cause enlargement of liver and spleen and both can involve central nervous system. Infections can cause alterations in csf cell count but abnormal cells are unlikely. ofcourse contaminatkn is a remote possijility.
Let us hope that treatable and curable condition should come out as final answer. But remember even leukemias and lymphomas are curable.
All the best
other causes are also likely
Detailed Answer:
sorry to hear that spinal tap showed abnormal cells. Generally pathologist are very cautious in interpreting malignancy reports and a report conclusive of leukemia is not given when in doubt. you have not mentioned anything about peripheralsmear report. Leukemic cells usually show up in CBP report. Of course bone marrow gives confirmatory diagnosis.
Yes, other possibilities are also there apart from cancer. most probable is tuberculosis and viral illnesses. both can cause enlargement of liver and spleen and both can involve central nervous system. Infections can cause alterations in csf cell count but abnormal cells are unlikely. ofcourse contaminatkn is a remote possijility.
Let us hope that treatable and curable condition should come out as final answer. But remember even leukemias and lymphomas are curable.
All the best
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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