Adult T cell leukaemia lymphoma in a non-aboriginal Australian woman with no apparent risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To present a case of adult T cell leukaemia lymphoma (ATLL) in a non-Aboriginal Australian woman with no apparent risk factor.


METHODS
A 43-year-old Australian woman of European descent presented with a febrile illness associated with generalised lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly.


METHODS
There was lymphocytosis in the peripheral blood with a T helper cell phenotype. There were also lytic bone lesions with associated hypercalcaemia. HTLV-1 antibody was detected by agglutination assay and confirmed by western blot test.


RESULTS
After initial response to CHOP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone), she relapsed and died with central nervous system involvement eight months after the initial diagnosis.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge this is only the third case of ATLL in a non-Aboriginal person in Australia.
Tong
M K
MK
Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute, Melbourne, Vic.
Wolf
M
M
Juneja
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001315:Australia; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone