MONOCYTIC LEUKEMIA A CASE REPORT ILLUSTRATING VARIATIONS IN THE CLINICAL PICTURE

Monocytic leukemia is an entity that has engendered a variety of divergentclinical and histologic opinions. A case is presented in which prolonged and intensive clinical and laboratory observations demonstrate the erratic course of thisdisease and illustrate the erroneous conclusions that may be derived from inconstant, momentary observations of this dynamic process. Study of the "naturalhistory" of monocytic leukemia yields observations which tend to reconcile manyof the hitherto conflicting opinions regarding this disease.

The origin and characteristics of the monocytic cell are discussed, and its probable derivation from mesenchyma is emphasized.