Published online Jan 6, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i1.204
Peer-review started: June 24, 2020
First decision: October 18, 2020
Revised: October 22, 2020
Accepted: November 12, 2020
Article in press: November 12, 2020
Published online: January 6, 2021
Processing time: 190 Days and 21.9 Hours
Myeloid neoplasm (MN) with eosinophilia and rearrangement of platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) shows a good therapeutic response to imatinib in adults. MN is rarely found in children, and the efficacy of imatinib on pediatric patients remain unclear.
We report 2 pediatric cases diagnosed with MN with eosinophilia and PDGFRB rearrangement who were treated with imatinib. Case 1 was a 1-year-old girl admitted to the hospital because of “abdominal distension with hyperleukocytosis for 3 mo”. She had leukocytosis, anemia, and eosinophilia (the absolute eosinophil count (AEC) was 8960/μL), and her fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) test revealed that PDGFRB rearrangement was detected in 70% of 500 interphase cells. Case 2 was a 2-year-old girl admitted to the hospital because of “recurrent fever and rashes for 1 mo”. Her blood cell count showed an AEC of 3540/μL. The FISH test revealed that PDGFRB rearrangement was detected in 71% of 500 interphase cells. Both patients were diagnosed as MN with eosinophilia and PDGFRB rearrangement. Imatinib was added into their treatment regimen. As expected, complete hematologic remission was achieved after 1 mo of treatment, and symptoms disappeared.
Although MN with eosinophilia and PDGFRB rearrangement usually occurs in adults, it can be found in children. The therapeutic benefits of imatinib in these 2 pediatric patients were consistent with its reported effects in adult patients.
Core Tip: In the present report, we describe 2 pediatric patients diagnosed as myeloid neoplasm (MN) with eosinophilia and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) rearrangement and reviewed the relative literature to analyze the clinical and therapeutic features of this rare clinical entity. Although MN with PDGFRB rearrangement rarely occurs in children, awareness should be increased for the possibility of this disease. Detection of the mutant gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization is necessary once the disease is suspected. Imatinib had a considerable effect on children, though the dose of imatinib is still unclear. Moreover, additional attention should be paid regarding the prognosis, life expectancy, side effects, and quality of life of these pediatric patients.