[Lymph node involvement as a primary localization of extramedullary blast crisis of chronic granulocytic leukemia...

Among 28 patients with blastic crisis of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) its primary symptom in four persons was lymph nodes enlargement. In two of them histopathologic examination confirmed myeloblastic infiltration. Lymph nodes involvement appeared 1-7 months before the onset of blastic transformation in peripheral blood and bone marrow: myeloblastic in two patients, promyelocytic in one and lymphoblastic myeloblastic (bi-phenotypic) in one. Survival time from nodal infiltration was 8-16 months and from the diagnosis of CGL 16-105 months. Remission of the disease after first blastic crisis was achieved in three patients. Cytogenetic examinations disclosed double Ph chromosome in three and single Ph chromosome in one patient.