Combination of tuberculosis of the intra thoracic lymph nodes and acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a child

According to scientific research, malignant neoplasms in children are biomedical risk factors for the development of tuberculosis (TB). On the contrary, the occurrence of oncological disease in a child against the background of an existing tuberculous process is extremely rare. The combination of malignant neoplasm and tuberculosis creates difficulties in differential diagnosis, treatment of diseases, prevention of exacerbations and relapses. This article presents a clinical observation – the development of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in a 6-year-old child against the background of TB of the intrathoracic lymph nodes during treatment. TB proceeded favorably despite multiple family contact in the child and resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to anti-tuberculosis drugs in adult relatives of the patient. At the onset of ALL, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and pleural effusion were observed, which were not associated with TB. Specific polychemotherapy for ALL and continued chemotherapy for TB led to the cure of two diseases. Supportive cytostatic and immunosuppressive therapy for ALL required periodic courses of anti-relapse anti-tuberculosis therapy for 5 years. After 10 years of observation, the child is healthy. Thus, the possibility of a rare in clinical practice combination of TB and ALL in children should be taken into account in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. During courses of immunosuppressive therapy for ALL, there is a risk of reactivation of TB. It is necessary to recommend long-term observation of such children by a phthisiatrician and an oncologist to prevent recurrence of both diseases.