Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia with loss of the segment distal to M-bcr

We describe a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and a 22q- but no 9q+ chromosome. Southern blot analysis showed a BCR rearrangement. The patient soon developed profound and superficial thrombophlebitis in arms and legs and died from pulmonary embolisation 15 days after diagnosis. Five CML cases with a deletion of 22q but no known translocation of 22q11----qter have been described earlier. The present patient is the first such case, however, in whom a BCR rearrangement has been demonstrated.