Non-leukaemic Reticuloendothelial Tumours and Leucosarcomas

Abstract

Since leukaemia is for all practical purposes invariably fatal the aim of treating a child with this disease is to ensure as long a period of happy, healthy life as possible. In a sense the management of children with non-leukaemic reticuloendothelial tumours places a greater responsibility on the clinician since a proportion of these patients may be cured. It is important, therefore, to have as clear a picture as possible of the natural history of this group of neoplasms. During the ten years ending September 1963, 86 children with non-leukaemic reticuloendothelial tumours were included in the Register. In addition, 12 children with tumours (11 lymphosarcomas and 1 erythraemic myelosis) which were initially non-leukaemic but became leukaemic later, are also considered, but those with Ewing’s tumours and reticulosarcoma of bone are excluded since they are discussed separately in chapter 12.