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Carcinocythemia (carcinoma cell leukemia) due to metastatic carcinoma of the breast. Report of a case
Author(s) -
Myerowitz Richard L.,
Edwards Paul A.,
Sartiano George P.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197712)40:6<3107::aid-cncr2820400653>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - medicine , pathology , metastatic carcinoma , breast carcinoma , bone marrow , leukemia , mononuclear phagocyte system , carcinoma , differential diagnosis , radiation therapy , breast cancer , metastatic breast cancer , lobular carcinoma , chemotherapy , cancer , ductal carcinoma
A patient with a 17‐year course of metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast is described who developed large numbers of circulating carcinoma cells which were easily detectable in several routine peripheral blood smears shortly before death. This rare complication of carcinoma has been called “carcinocythemia.” Carcinocythemia is probably due to widespread infiltration of many bone marrow sites and may also be related to splenectomy, which may impair reticuloendothelial clearance of circulating tumor cells. The differential diagnosis of carcinocythemia from superimposed acute myelogenous leukemia, which can complicate radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the primary tumor, is discussed. Cytomorphology, histochemistry, and electron microscopy of abnormal circulating cells should aid in the distinction of these two processes. Cancer 40:3107‐3111, 1977.