A back pain

Key words: Leukemia, Constipation, Back pain

A 7-year-old boy was admitted to the Emergency Unit for a one-month history of low back pain, which got worse and resulted in a refusal to walk. On physical examination, the patient refused to stand, and palpation of the spinous processes of the lumbosacral spine evoked pain. Blood tests were normal, except for raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (51 mm/h, ULN 20 mm/h). An X-ray showed fecaloma and MRI of the spine was performed. Different diagnostic hypotheses and diagnostic exams are discussed.