Cytology in Lymphosarcoma Cell Leukemia

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Abstract
The cytologic characteristics of viable blood cells were studied in 46 patients with the clinical diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and in 14 with the diagnosis of lymphosarcoma cell leukemia. The viable cells were examined with phase contrast microscopy to determine the percentages of lymphocytes positive for chromatin masses, nucleoli, or nuclear indentations of a specified size, or all three. Measurements were also made of the in vitro sensitivity of the lymphocytes to the cytocidal effects of prednisolone (1 μg. per ml.) and of x-irradiation (100 and 1000 r.). Compared with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, patients who had lymphosarcoma cell leukemia had lower percentages of blood lymphocytes with large chromatin masses and higher percentages with nuclear indentations. In addition, the cells of lymphosarcoma cell leukemia usually had decreased sensitivity to prednisolone and to x-irradiation. The 5-year survival rates were 11% for lymphosarcoma cell leukemia and 51% for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

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