CHRONIC LYMPHATIC LEUKEMIA AND MULTIPLE MYELOMA IN THE SAME PATIENT

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Abstract
A case history is presented of a patient having both chronic lymphatic leukemia and multiple myeloma. There was an elevated white blood count of approximately 100,000/ml3, 99% of which were mature lymphocytes. There was also an elevated serum globulin giving the characteristic electrophoretic pattern of multiple myeloma. Terminally the patient developed multiple osteolytic lesions which were demonstrated by X-ray films. Histological examination of the lymph nodes and other lymphoid tissue revealed the characteristic pattern of lymphocytic lymphoma. The bone marrow was highly cellular and presented 2 distinct patterns. One consisted of hematopoietic tissue densely infiltrated with small mature lymphocytes; the other of masses of mature plasma cells. These findings were considered evidence of the existence of both diseases. This case serves to focus further attention upon the hypothesis that plasma cells and lymphocytes are closely related.