EARLY ATYPICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF LEUKEMIA

Abstract
Ten cases of various combinations of anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia are presented. The marrow was uniformly normal or hyperactive. In all instances but one, the spleen was not enlarged initially. Nine patients died. Six developed leukemia. Three others died of reticulum cell sarcoma, aplastic anemia and hemorrhage associated with thrombocytopenia, respectively. In none of the patients who subsequently developed leukemia or lymphoma was it possible to establish these diagnoses initially. Splenectomy was valueless in the 8 cases in which it was performed. The relationship of these cases to "primary" splenic panhematopenia is discussed.
Keywords