[A case of acute lymphocytic leukemia transformed from malignant lymphoma]

We report a case of malignant lymphoma in a 15-year-old male. He had erythema and nodular lesions, hepatomegaly, and splenomegaly with high fever for one month. Laboratory examination revealed a normal blood routine test, a few lymphomatic cells in the bone marrow, and histopathologic changes characteristic of malignant lymphoma in a skin biopsy. Two months later, a second bone marrow examination showed 90% prolymphoblasts. The peripheral blood count revealed WBC 108 x 10(9)/L; among these, prolymphoblasts accounted for 92%. The patient was diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia, and died 2 days later. The diagnosis and transformation from malignant lymphoma to acute lymphocytic leukemia are discussed.