The iatrogenic leukaemias induced by radio- and/or chemotherapy

A short review, limited to recently published series of data, has been compiled on the 'therapy-induced' secondary malignancies. Their frequency, peak of incidence, haematological and clinical criteria, the influence of age, treated primary disease, choice of drug(s) and modality of prescription and the role of genetic and environmental factors are analyzed. The risk varies between 0.6 and 20.5% after different treatment forms. Some suggestions for the choice of treatment of chronic malignant disorders, and for the design of future epidemiological studies are given.