title: Variant translocation t(8;22) and abnormalities of chromosome 15(q22) and 17(q12-21) in a Burkitt's lymphoma/leukaemia with disseminated intravascular coagulation.
abstract: Severe disseminated intravascular coagulation was observed in a patient with Burkitt's lymphoma/leukaemia. Immunological studies on leukaemic blasts from relapsed bone marrow revealed a B-cell phenotype (B4+, B1+, HLA-Dr+, J5+) with membrane bound IgM lambda. Cytogenetic investigation revealed a variant Burkitt's translocation t(8;22)(q24;q11) involving the lambda light chain gene region and abnormalities of chromosomes 15 and 17 with breakpoints at q22 and q12 respectively, similar to those observed in the t(15;17) in acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Transmission electron microscopy of the leukaemic blasts showed crystalline cytoplasmic inclusions which may have had a role in precipitating the disseminated intravascular coagulation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001752:Blast Crisis / Q000473:pathology; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D014178:Translocation, Genetic