HISTOPATHOLOGY OF CHRONIC MYELOID-LEUKEMIA IN DIAGNOSTIC BONE-MARROW BIOPSIES

Histopathology of the bone marrow of diagnostic biopsies prior to any therapy is described in a total of 412 Ph(1)-positive patients. Special attention is paid to the distribution of megakaryocytes, increase of fibres and blasts, and occurrence of storing histiocytes of pseudo-Gaucher type, Megakaryocytes were significantly increased in 31.6 % of diagnostic biopsies, myelofibrosis was found in 15.8 %, significant increase of blasts in 2.4 %. Pseudo-Gaucher cells were detected in 57.8 % of a total of 412 biopsies, These histiological features are considered as an indication of the progress of the disease. A semiquantitative specification of CML by this criteria is described which can be performed rather reliably and defines the stage of CML at diagnosis prior to substantial treatment.