[Acute myeloid leukemia after treatment of Hodgkin's disease]

The development of acute leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia, represents a serious complication in patients treated with radio and/or chemotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. It has been reported with increasing frequency in the last years. Two such cases, that occurred in 87 patients treated for Hodgkin's disease, are reported. Complete autopsy was performed in both. The patients were less than 30 years old, received combined therapy during a prolonged time (more than 12 months), with an interval superior to 44 months between the diagnosis of Hodgkin's disease and the appearance of acute myeloid leukemia. The survival time was less than 12 months. Residual Hodgkin's disease was not observed.