title: Sudden death in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: The authors describe a 51-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who presented with respiratory distress and then died suddenly while in hospital. Autopsy revealed pulmonary leukostasis and a large intracardiac mass containing mostly mature lymphocytes and fibrin. Although leukostasis and lymphocyte thrombi have been described (albeit rarely) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, an intracardiac "clot" has not. It seems plausible that this intracardiac mass caused the patient's death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Beaubien
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Satkunam
mesh_terms: D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D018921:Leukostasis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged