Acute leukemia in Hodgkin's disease

Abstract

Three cases of Hodgkin's disease terminating in acute leukemia are described and the literature reviewed. All 3 patients were diagnosed within the past year and were noted among 1095 patients with Hodgkin's disease seen during the last 15 years at Memorial Hospital in New York. The interval from the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease to the documentation of leukemia was 8 years, 10 months, and 7 years in the 3 patients, respectively. Two patients developed myelomonocytic leukemia, and the 3rd monocytic leukemia. All 3 patients died within 6 months from the diagnosis of leukemia with no significant response to treatment. Two patients had radiotherapy and chemotherapy prior to the diagnosis of leukemia, and a 3rd patient had only chemotherapy for their Hodgkin's disease. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy as possible leukemogens are considered.