Abstract
A 54-year-old woman born in Miyazaki Prefecture was admitted because of dyspnea, fever, erythroderma and generalized lymphnode enlargement. The leucocyte count in the peripheral blood was 45,100/cmm with 9% atypical lymphocytes showing pleomorphism and deeply indented or lobulated neuclei. 93.6% of the peripheral lymphocytes formed E-rosettes. The chest radiographs showed extensive mixed shadow of alveolar and interstitial pattern bilaterally.
The diagnosis of adult T-cell leukemia was made and treatment with vincristine, cyclophosphamide and prednisolone was instituted, but her general state deteriorated rapidly. She died of respiratory failure 15 days after admission.
Autopsy revealed leukemic cell infiltration into almost all organs including thymus. It was confirmed histologically that the abnormal shadow of chest radiographs was caused by leukemic infiltration.
