[24-year survival in chronic myeloid leukemia]

A 55-year-old woman was diagnosed as having chronic myeloid leukemia in 1961. After 9 years with stable white blood cells, progression of the disease was noted (white cells up to 180 X 10(9)/l; splenomegaly to the umbilicus). Busulfan was given over 4 weeks resulting in a remission of 13 years duration. Progression was observed again in 1983, 22 years after the initial diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia. Therapy with hydroxyurea resulted in another remission of shorter duration. Two chromosome studies showed the Philadelphia chromosome in 100% of metaphases without additional aberrations. In 1985 blast crisis developed. The cause of death as determined at autopsy was an undiagnosed miliary tuberculosis. The presented case is of special interest since (1) it is a report of the longest surviving patient with chronic myeloid leukemia, and (2) in contrast to other cases with long survival, this patient did not show chromosomal mosaicism or any additional chromosomal aberrations.