Abstract

The authors here present two cases of myelophthisic anemia due to metastatic carcinomas from uterine cervix and stomach in HYUH on March and June, 1976, respectively. The following observations are made. 1. Immature myeloid and erythroid cells are present in peripheral blood in both cases, and the quantities of immature white blood cells are 10% and 19% of total white blood cells, respectively, and those of immature red blood cells are 4 and 12 cells per 100 white blood cells, respectively 2. Red blood cell counts and hemoglobins are very decreased in both cases to 3.4gm% and 4.7gm%, respectively. 3. Abnorma1 red blood cell morphologies in peripheral blood such an anisocytosis, tear drop poikilocytosis, polychromatophilia, are observed in both cases. 4. Platelet counts are very decreased in both cases to 6,000/mm3 and 64, 000/mm3, respectively, and large platelets are often observed. 5. Total white blood cell counts are 8,700/mm3 in both cases and the ratio of myeloid to lymphatic element is normal in both cases. 6. In case 1, eosinophil is 20% of total white blood cells. The cause of this relative eosinophilia may be probable due to carcinomatosis or irradiation, or both. 7. Reticulocyte count is 3.6% in case 1. 8. Bone merrow examinations show a metastatic squamous cell carcinoma in case 1 and a metastatic adenocarcinoma in case 2. 9. Primary tumors of these two patients with myelophthisic anemia are considered as squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix in case 1 who, about three and half years ago, were received a total hysterectomy and irradiation due to cervical carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma the stomach in case 2 which is confirmed by U.G.I. study. 10. Radiologic studies are negative for bony metastases in both cases.