Massive Hemorrhage in the Adrenal Glands: Two Autopsied Cases of Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Aplastic Anemia

Abstract

Case 1, 44-year-old housewife, anemic since November 1963. In December 1963, pancytopenia with no immature myeloid cells. No increase in myeloblasts in the bone marrow. After a year's observation without specific treatments she was first admitted to hospital with 10% of myeloblasts in the peripheral blood and the diagnosis of acute myelogenous leukemia was made. Improvement after treatment with 6-MP and prednisolone. In December 26, 1964, she was diagnosed as pleurisy and readmitted. Recovery after two weeks' treatment with antituberculous drugs. She died suddenly on January 15, 1965. Autopsy findings: Acute myelogenous leukemia with the bilateral adrenal cortical hemorrhage.
Case 2, 59-year-old housewife. Subcutaneous hemorrhage since 1964. In June 1965 diagnosis of aplastic anemia was made. Subjective symptoms subsided temporarily after treatment with prednisolone and blood transfusion. Fever appeared since November 1965, and enterococcus was cultured from sputum, urine and venous blood. Died on January 6, 1966. Autopsy findings: Aplastic anemia, marked hemorrhage in the bilateral adrenal glands, renal pelvis and ureters, and scattersed abscesses in the kidney and liver.