[Acute leukaemic course of centroblastic-centrocytic non-Hodgkin lymphomas]

Despite histologically limited malignancy blastic leukaemia developed in two patients with centroblastic-centrocytic malignant lymphoma. Blastic cells were peroxidase- and PAS-negative, whereas alpha-naphthylacetate-esterase was predominantly positive. In one case blastic acid phosphatase showed a positive reaction. Despite multiple therapeutic attempts remission of acute leukaemia could not be achieved. Centroblastic-centrocytic malignant lymphoma is thus not only endangered by the histologic transformation to higher malignancy but also by the development of blastic leukaemia. Among our 18 patients with centroblastic-centrocytic lymphomas these two patients were the only to develop terminal blastic leukaemia. There was no leukaemic course in ten primarily centroblastic malignant lymphomas. The association of haematologic acute blastic leukaemia and simultaneous diffuse lymphnode swelling and enlargement of the spleen must lead to consideration of blastic leukaemia originating from a centroblastic-centrocytic lymphoma.