SIMULTANEOUS DIAGNOSIS OF HODGKIN'S DISEASE AND CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Abstract

The coexistence of Hodgkin's disease and chronic lymphocytic leukemia seems from the literature to be a very rare association reported in no more than 30 cases (3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29). The so-called Richter's syndrome (22) includes also the association of chronic lymphocytic leukemia with reticulum cell sarcoma (7).
In one patient we were able to document ante-mortem and simultaneously the diagnosis of both lymphoproliferative disorders, while in almost every case previously reported the diagnosis of combined occurrence was made at post-mortem examination. The simultaneous diagnosis at the time of initial work up allowed a proper treatment for both diseases.