Monocytic Leukemia

The Pathological Nature of Mycosis Fungoides

“…Here the reticulum cell was exhibiting its multi-potency. Again, in the cases of Montgomery and Watkins (1937), mycosis fungoides was accompanied by monocytic leukaemia.…”

The Skin Lesions of Monocytic Leukaemia

“…It has been claimed, however, that there is a " toxic " group of lesions (or leukaemides), including haemorrhagic, urticarial, bullous, eczematous and exfoliative types, presumably showing no extravascular monocytic cells. That most of these lesions are really infiltrative has been established by biopsy on repeated occasions (Whitby and Christie, 1935;Montgomery and Watkins, 1937).…”

“…On occasion, they enlarge to become plaques. At this stage they may be difficult to distinguish from mycosis fungoides (Montgomery and Watkins, 1937) or cutaneous sarcoidosis. The centres sometimes soften and slough, leaving irregular crateriform ulcers with an indurated base and a raised infiltrated edge.…”

“…In these instances it is very difficult to assess a causal relationship to the leukaemia. Montgomery and Watkins (1938a) quote the case of a patient who had suffered from chronic eczema for many years, and later developed an exfoliative dermatitis which was proved by biopsy to be leukaemic. There must be an element of doubt in such cases unless skin biopsy performed at an early date has shown the characteristic picture of monocytic leukaemia cutis.…”