Histiocytic medullary reticulosis in acute lymphocytic leukemia of T cell origin

T. K. Chen, M. E. Nesbit, R. McKenna and J. H. Kersey

A patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia of T (thymic-derived) cell origin was successfully treated and was maintained in remission for four months by combined chemotherapy. He died following a seven-week, fulminant course with fever, refractory pancytopenia, and marked hepatosplenomegaly. The autopsy showed lymphoid leukemic infiltration and extensive histiocytic medullary reticulosis in various organs. The possible relations between these two lymphoreticular diseases are discussed.