Clinicoepidemiologic study of leukemia: analysis of 220 cases managed in the National Cancer Institute

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out retrospectively on 220 consecutive cases of leukemia. An age and sex matched control group was chosen, with the diagnosis of malignant disease other than leukemia. The commonest cell type is the acute lymphoblastic being in the second decade. The median age shifts to third decade in AML and AMML, fourth decade in A. stem cell and CML. The highest median age is that of chronic lymphatic leukemia [6th decade]. Seasonal variation was detected with a higher frequency of cases in January and July. More leukemia cases have permanent residence in Cairo and Giza relative to other malignancies. Self-selection can not be excluded, due to the availability of the National Cancer Institute in Cairo and difficulty of management of leukemia cases elsewhere. Lower frequency of cases coming from Fayoum awaits further confirmation. There is a possibility of a high prevalence of the disease in Port-Said relative to other governorates. More specific studies are invited in this respect. The main presenting symptoms were osseous and articular symptoms. They were more frequent in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Malaise and easy fatiguability are present in all types of leukemia. Fever and bleeding were more in the acute than in the chronic forms. Multiple swellings were more frequent in the lymphatic than non-lymphatic leukemia. Splenomegaly was present in 95.2% of chronic myeloid leukemia