Extreme leucocytosis and splenomegaly in metastasised melanoma

De Wolff, J.F.; Planken, E.V.; den Ottolander, G.J.

Netherlands Journal of Medicine 62(5): 164-167

2004


ISSN/ISBN: 0300-2977
PMID: 15366701
Document Number: 584125
A 63-year-old woman presented to the internist with fatigue, cough, low-grade fever, splenomegaly and leucocytosis up to 130 x 10(9)/l. Although a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukaemia was initially entertained, she turned out to have a metastasised melanoma. The differential diagnosis and workup is discussed, as well as potential mechanisms by which the tumour could have induced the leucocytosis, such as the production of G-CSF or similar mediators, and the prognostic significance of this phenomenon.

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