title: Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma with mediastinal involvement and an asymptomatic chronic phase.
abstract: A black, West Indian woman with adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL), hypercalcemia, peripheral and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, and serum antibodies to human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) was found to have massive mediastinal adenopathy, a feature not previously reported in patients with ATLL. In addition, she had had asymptomatic leukocytosis with marked lymphocytosis for at least 6 years before presenting with full-blown ATLL. These findings broaden the clinical picture of ATLL. Cell surface-marker studies and close follow-up are recommended for patients with apparent chronic lymphocytic leukemia, especially if they have pleomorphic lymphocytosis, are younger than usual or are from the Caribbean or Japan.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000150:complications; D007563:Jamaica / Q000208:ethnology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000150:complications; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes