Thoracic Complications in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Thoracic Diseases in CLL)

Publication date: Available online 17 February 2017 Source:Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia Author(s): Sameer Khanijo, Pragati Tandon, Cristina P. Sison, Seth Koenig Background Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is the most common lymphoproliferative disorder worldwide. While thoracic complications are frequent in CLL, only limited data exist regarding the etiologies of these complications. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients admitted to a tertiary care, CLL-referral center, with CLL and a respiratory complaint from 2001 through 2013 to categorize pulmonary complaints and diagnoses. Findings There were 277 patients with CLL admitted on 409 occasions with respiratory complaints. Median age was 73 with male to female ratio of 2:1. The majority of patients had a high-risk Rai classification and had received prior treatment. Common presenting symptoms included dyspnea, cough and sputum production. The most common diagnosis was pneumonia (62.8%), with an identified organism in 44.7%, pleural effusions (31.8%), lung cancer (6.9%) and leukemic infiltrates (5.9%). Invasive procedures were performed 138 times: 70 bronchoscopies, 24 surgical lung biopsies, 10 CT-guided lung biopsies and 34 thoracenteses. In-hospital mortality was 24.9%. In a multivariable analysis, an elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level and creatinine, thrombocytopenia, and a presenting symptom of dyspnea correlated significantly with in-hospital mortality. Interpretat...
Source: Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research