[Richter's syndrome]

A report is presented on a case of Richter's syndrome in a 77-year old female patient. The pathological process stretched over two year starting as chronic lymphatic leukemia with typical features of the clinical and hematological pictures. No cytostatics were used. In the terminal stages, the cytological picture had changed to the exten that a clinical diagnosis of Richter's syndrome could be established. Histological tests of the necroptic material revealed the presence in lymph nodes of structures of lymphogranuloma with Reed-Sternberg's cells. Monoclonal gammapathy IgM was another noteworthy feature.