Tuberc Respir Dis.  2011 Dec;71(6):454-458.

A Case of Small Cell Lung Cancer Coexisting with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Song JS
• Lee GH
• Lee MK
• Kim WJ
• Lee SH
• Kim SH
• Kim TH
• Yoon HJ
• Shin DH
• Park SS
• Choi JH
• Oh YH
• Sohn JW

Abstract

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia occurring in Western nations. In CLL it is well known that the risk of a secondary malignancy is higher than in the normal population. But in Korea, CLL is a rare type of leukemia, so there have been only a few reported cases with a secondary malignancy. CLL is characterized by progressive defects in both cell-mediated and humoral immunity. It is known that defects in the immune system of patients with CLL contribute to the development of a secondary malignancy. We experienced a case of a 71-year-old man who suffered from a chronic cough and was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer coexisting with CLL. Until this case, there was no reported case in Korea of small cell lung cancer coexisting with CLL. We now report a case of small cell lung cancer coexisting with CLL and present a literature review.

Keyword

Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Aged
Cough
Humans
Immune System
Immunity, Humoral
Korea
Leukemia
Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Figure

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  Figure 1 The chest x-ray shows right hilar prominence and a consolidative lesion in the right middle lobe territory.

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  Figure 2 The chest CT shows a large mass in the right middle lobe subcarinal area. CT: computed tomography.

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  Figure 3 (A) The tumor cells show a sheet-like growth pattern with small, oval, round, hyperchromatic nuclei and scant cytoplasm. Nuclear moulding and mitoses are frequent (Hematoxylin-eosin, ×40). (B) The neoplastic cells are positive for synaptophysin immunostaining (×400).

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  Figure 4 (A) Bone marrow harboring monomorphic small, round to slightly irregular lymphocytes (Hematoxily-eosin, ×400). (B, C) Immunohistochemistry for CD79a and CD5 are strongly positive in atypical tumor cells (×100).

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