Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with monosomy 7 in a Hiroshima survivor 37 years after the bomb

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) developed in a 53-year-old survivor of the Hiroshima bomb blast. Chromosomal analysis disclosed a single abnormality, deletion of chromosome 7. This deletion has been reported in patients with radiation exposure, but it is uncommon in adults with ALL. The karyotypic abnormality suggests that our patient's leukemia may be related to prior radiation exposure despite a 37-year hiatus. The findings raise further questions about the persistent risk of leukemia among atomic bomb survivors.