[Adult T cell leukemia accompanied by marked swelling of the left thigh]

A patient with adult T cell leukemia (ATL) whose chief complaint was marked swelling of left thigh is reported. A 72-year-old woman was diagnosed as having ATL based on a high titer of anti-ATLA antibody and abnormal lymphocytes with convoluted nuclei. Computed tomography revealed swelling of her left thigh and a large low-attenuation mass in its muscles. Aspirate from her thigh contained many abnormal cells. Though chemotherapy reduced the swelling for two weeks, she had a relapse and died. This is the first case of ATL having such an onset reported in Japan.