Infectious Mononucleosis Mimicking Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL): a Case Report

Maassoumeh Akhlaghi; Kiarash  Kazemi; Soheila Sobhani

doi:10.18502/crcp.v8i2.13556

Maassoumeh Akhlaghi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Kiarash Kazemi Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Soheila Sobhani Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/crcp.v8i2.13556

Keywords: Lnfectious mononucleosis; Acute iymphoblastic leukemia; Epstein-bar virus

Abstract

Infectious mononucleosis (IM), usually caused by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), is not rare among populations. Fever, pharyngotonsilitis and lymphadenopathy are its major presentations. Since EBV mainly targets lymphomononuclear cells and the reticuloendothelial system, it might be mistaken with hematological malignancies. The case presented in this article showed a very high similarity to an acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which complicated the diagnostic work-up. The histopathological data and clinical course of IM patients are not usually distinctive; hence, early work-up for EBV-associated IM is suggested.