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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2005; 26(5): 514-519
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-922034
Copyright © 2005 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Myeloid Leukemias and Lung Involvement

Tat Tee Koh1 , Thomas V. Colby2 , Nestor L. Müller1
  • 1Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  • 2Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona
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Publication History

Publication Date:
02 November 2005 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Myeloid leukemias are clonal malignancies characterized by the presence of increased numbers of immature myeloid cells in the marrow and peripheral blood. Pulmonary involvement by myeloid leukemia is relatively uncommon and seen mainly in patients with severe disease. The most common form of pulmonary involvement consists of leukemic infiltration along the lymphatics in the peribronchovascular, septal, and pleural interstitial tissue. Less common manifestations include myeloid sarcoma, leukostasis, leukemic cell lysis pneumopathy, and hyperleukocytic reaction. The radiological manifestations of pulmonary leukemic cell infiltration and leukostasis consist mainly of bilateral thickening of the peribronchovascular interstitium and interlobular septa, a pattern that resembles that of interstitial pulmonary edema. The radiological manifestations of leukemic cell lysis pneumopathy and hyperleukocytic reaction consist of symmetric bilateral areas of consolidation. This manuscript reviews the histological and radiological intrathoracic manifestations of myelogenous leukemias.

KEYWORDS

Leukemia - myeloid leukemia - radiography - computed tomography - lung diseases

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Nestor L MüllerM.D. Ph.D. 

Department of Radiology, Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia

899 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 1M9

Email: nmuller@vanhosp.bc.ca

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