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Bone Marrow Edema and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Treatment in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Russo S, Fazio M, Mirabile G, Sciaccotta R, Stagno F, Allegra A

Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland), 2025

Abstract

Background and Clinical Significance: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have transformed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) into a largely manageable chronic disease. However, off-target toxicities are increasingly recognized; rarer complications such as bone marrow edema (BME) remain underreported. BME is a radiological syndrome characterized by excess intramedullary fluid on fat-suppressed T2/STIR magnetic resonance imaging sequences and may progress to irreversible osteochondral damage if unrecognized. We report a case series of TKI-associated BME and propose a practical diagnostic-therapeutic framework. Case Presentation: We describe three patients with Ph+ CML who developed acute, MRI-confirmed BME of the lower limb during TKI therapy. Case 1 developed unilateral then bilateral knee BME, temporally associated first with dasatinib and subsequently with imatinib; symptoms improved after TKI interruption, bisphosphonate therapy, and supportive measures, and did not recur after switching to bosutinib. Case 2 presented with proximal femoral BME during long-term imatinib; imatinib was stopped, intravenous neridronate administered, and bosutinib initiated with clinical recovery and later near-complete radiological resolution. Case 3 experienced multifocal foot and ankle BME during imatinib; symptoms resolved after drug discontinuation and bisphosphonate therapy, and disease control was re-established with bosutinib without recurrence of BME.…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

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