Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Acute leukemia is a hematological malignancy characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of
hemopietic primitive cells. Presenting features of acute leukemia include fever, anemia, pallor;
hepatosplenomegaly &lymphadenopathy, bleeding tendency, bone pain&gum hypertrophy.
Intrathoracic manifestations of acute leukemia include infection,mediastinal widening , hemorrhage,
infiltration, embolism, edema, pericarditis ´ respiratory distress syndrome.
OBJECTIVE:
To describe the clinical &radiological respiratory features of acute leukemia at presentation,before
starting chemotherapy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
Patients with acute leukemia of age ranged from 15-75 years were incorporated in this study, patients
were excluded from the study if they had previous malignancy, lung disease, or if received cytotoxic
treatment. Every patient had a detailed history of pulmonary symptoms & chest examination,chest xray
examination, sputum samples & pleural aspirates for relevant patients.
RESULTS:
Of 118 patients with actue leukemia at presentation, 60% of patients were males& 40% were
females. Respiratory symptoms including cough,dyspnea&chest pain were found in27.7% of patients
(cough 24.4% ,dyspnea 2.5%,chest pain 0.8%) . Respiratory signs including crepitations ,decreased
air entry & bronchial breathing were found in 12.5% of patients(crepitation 3.3%, decreased air entry
in 6.7%, bronchial breathing in 2.5%). Chest X-ray abnormalities were found in 14.3% of patients
,these include mediastinal widening in 5.9% of patients .Pleural effusion in 4.2% & parenchymal
infiltrates in 4.2% of patients
CONCLUSION:
The chest findings in patient with actue leukemia at presentation were not uncommon. mediastinal
widening was the commonest, pleural effusion&parenchymal infiltrates were less common findings