Environment and malignancies of the lymphatic system.

The possible effects of environmental factors on childhood lymphatic leukemia and intestinal lymphoma are reviewed. It is suggested that the subtype of childhood acute leukemia is determined by a spontaneous mutation in the proliferating lymphoid pool. The latter is affected by environmental factors such as the type of infections in the pediatric population. The changing leukemia subtype pattern in the Gaza Strip and the fact that intestinal lymphoma with malabsorption has practically disappeared from Israel strongly suggest that environmental factors do play a role in lymphatic malignancies.