Diarrheic syndrome as a clinical sign of intestinal infiltration in progressive B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Gastrointestinal involvement is a rare event in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and is usually associated to lymphomatous transformation. However, in autopsy studies the reported incidence of microscopic infiltration can reach up to 50% of cases. Seven B-CLL patients in advanced stage/progressive disease were evaluated by colonoscopy because of continuous diarrhea. Five out of seven patients (71%) presented histological evidence of colonic infiltration. Persistent diarrhea in patients with progressive/advanced B-CLL can be a clinical sign of intestinal infiltration and justifies endoscopic examinations.
Abella
E
E
Department of Clinical Hematology, Spain. 92724@imas.imim.es
Gimenez
T
T
Gimeno
J
J
Cervera
M
M
Pedro
C
C
Gimeno
E
E
Alvarez
A
A
Salar
A
A
Bellosillo
B
B
Serrano
S
S
Besses
C
C
D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology