Malignant lymphomas invade bone marrow and can cause a myelophthisic myelopathy. In miliary tuberculosis, caseating granulomas demonstrate positive acid-fast organisms. Tuberculosis granulomas also reveal typical Langhans-type giant cells with multiple nuclei. Gaucher cells clog or infiltrate the bone marrow, spleen, and liver. This disorder is inherited.
Family history is very important.
Presence of lytic and blastic lesions on skeletal films is common in patients with prostate, lung, or breast cancer metastases. Bone scans are sensitive in detecting these abnormalities as well as the presence of bone metastases. MRI of the involved area can detect marrow infiltration. The presence of immature cells in the peripheral blood is due to the disruption of the blood-marrow barrier. This causes an early release of immature cells into the circulation, referred to as leukoerythroblastic anemia.