Abstract
The characteristics of the autopsy findings were reported on three cases of leukemic patients who had history of Atomic Bomb exposure and the hematological disorders, such as anemia and leukopenia for a long period (so-called preleukemic stage) preceding the terminal development of acute leukemia.
We have already reported that the chromosomal and the cytological abnormalities had been observed in three cases before their leukemia became overt clinically.
Case 1 (54 years old female), and Case 2 (61 years old female), both patients died of erythroleukemia after the prolonged leukopenia continued for 11 and 13 years.
Autopsy revealed hypo and/or normocellular marrow with mild leukemic cell proliferation, preserving the basic structure and the very few leukemic cell infiltrations in all the other organs, in spite of receiving no treatment with antileukemic agents.
Case 3 (38 years old female) developed monocytic leukemia after hypoplastic anemia for 13 years. In contrast against case 1 and case 2, the autopsy in case 3. revealed the fully developed leukemic involvement. Such discrepancies and the differences between the three cases were discussed in terms of the characteristics from various view points and the emphasis was put on the necessity of studying the enviroment where leukemic cells would proliferate.
