title: Large cell transformation of subclinical small lymphocytic leukemia/lymphoma: a variant of Richter's syndrome.
abstract: The authors report three cases of diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (large cell, two; mixed small and large cell, one) arising in association with clinically silent small lymphocytic proliferations involving bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Immunologic marker studies suggested origin from a common B cell clone in two cases; in one case the large cell lymphoma lacked detectable surface markers. Some cases of diffuse aggressive lymphomas of adults may arise by large cell transformation of clinically silent small lymphocytic proliferations, a process akin to Richter's syndrome.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor