Small cell lung cancer in a patient with neutropenia due to Felty's syndrome

A patient with severe neutropenia due to Felty's syndrome had limited stage small cell lung cancer, resulting in a therapeutic dilemma. Because he had a cellular bone marrow and no history of recurrent infection, we decided to administer full doses of cytotoxic chemotherapy with curative intent. A durable remission was achieved without complication, despite persistent severe peripheral neutropenia. It may be possible to administer aggressive chemotherapeutic regimens to selected patients with Felty's syndrome when there is the potential for cure of malignant disease.