Simultaneous occurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and acute myelomonocytic leukemia.

The simultaneous occurrence of nodular poorly differentiated lymphocytic lymphoma (NLPD) and acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) was confirmed by the histologic examination of lymph node section, peripheral blood, and bone marrow. This association in the absence of previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy has not been previously documented. There have been six previous case reports of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphocytic lymphoma who, during treatment with alkylating agents or radiotherapy, developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). These methods of therapy may have had a leukemogenic role in such patients. The possible relationship between these two diseases is discussed.