Solid tumors after chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients: Report of six cases and review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
Malignancies have been reported to occur with increased frequency in chronic lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) patients. The aim of this study was to describe which second malignancies occur in patients with CLL, whether these malignancies are related to CLL, its treatment, or both. We also attempt to study factors predicting the development of other malignancies.


METHODS
Between 1995 and 2009, six cases of CLL associated with solid tumor were diagnosed in Hematology Department of Military Hospital of Tunis. The diagnosis of CLL was made by immunophenotyping of peripheral blood circulating B cells, and the diagnosis of solid tumors was made by biopsy with anatomopathological exam and immunohistochemical study.


RESULTS
The mean age of patients was 71 years. Five patients were male. The CLL was classified Stage A in one case, Stage B in three cases and Stage C in two cases. Two patients had abnormal karyotype. Three patients have not received specific treatment for their CLL. Solid tumors were represented by skin cancer in three cases, lung cancer in two cases and breast cancer in one case. The median time between diagnosis of CLL and that of solid tumor was 53 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with CLL have an increased risk of developing a second cancer. Awareness of risk factors could permit early detection.
Clinical hematology department, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia.
H
H
Chaabouni
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
K
K
Kacem
Clinical hematology department, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia.
S
S
Zriba
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
R
R
Mansouri
Clinical hematology department, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia.
H
H
Ghédira
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
R B
RB
Lakhal
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
M
M
Zarrouk
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Y B
YB
Abdennebi
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
H B
HB
Neji
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
L
L
Aïssaoui
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
Z B
ZB
Ali
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
H B
HB
Abid
Clinical hematology department, Military Hospital of Tunis, Tunisia.
F M
FM
Sadek
Clinical Hematology Department, Aziza Othama Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
B
B
Meddeb