Metastatic reticulum cell sarcoma and lactic acidosis.

The clinical course of a woman with metastatic reticulum cell sarcoma and intractable lactic acidosis is described. Although her illness was dominated by a myelopathy, she developed severe lactic acidosis which could not be related to decreased tissue oxygen delivery. Necropsy showed extensive hepatic replacement with tumor and widespread disease. This and other possible pathogenetic factors causing lactic acidosis are discussed.