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Leukemic infiltration of the esophagus
S R Fulp1, B R Nestok, B L Powell
1Department of Internal Medicine, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1082.
Cancer
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Leukemic infiltration of the esophagus, though rare, can be diagnosed antemortem in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. High leukocyte counts are associated with this esophageal involvement, suggesting it as a potential diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
Background:
- Leukemic infiltration of the esophagus is infrequently documented in autopsy studies.
- Antemortem diagnosis of esophageal leukemia remains rare.
Observation:
- Three cases of acute myeloid leukemia with histologically and cytologically confirmed esophageal leukemic infiltration via endoscopic examination are presented.
- A review of 207 leukemia autopsies revealed esophageal leukemic infiltration in 7.2% of cases.
Findings:
- High initial leukocyte count was the sole clinical factor significantly associated with esophageal leukemic infiltration.
- Esophageal involvement frequently co-occurred with leukemic infiltration in other soft tissues and organs.
Implications:
- While dysphagia in acute leukemia often stems from infection or treatment side effects, esophageal leukemia should be considered.
- Esophageal leukemia is typically indicative of widely disseminated disease, impacting prognosis and management.