Spontaneous regression of hematologic cancers.

Spontaneous regression of hematologic cancer is extremely rare. Data gleaned from the literature and from previously unreported cases allow certain interesting general conclusions. Spontaneous remission of acute leukemia is associated with bacterial infection and is of short duration, weeks to months. Spontaneous regression of lymphoma or plasma cell dyscrasia is often of substantial duration, months or years, and frequently is associated with viral infections. Spontaneous regression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia is also of significant duration and has been associated with the occurence of a new primary carcinoma in one-third of the cases.