Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord in acute monoblastic leukemia

A 54-year-old man who had acute monoblastic leukemia and manifestations of subacute combined degeneration (SCD) of the spinal cord is described clinically and pathologically. Infiltration of the wall of the stomach by leukemic cells may produce impairment in gastric absorption of vitamin B12 and leukemia itself may cause deficiency of folic acid. Decreased level of vitamin B12 or folic acid or both may have evoked symptoms of SCD of the spinal cord in this patient.