CLL Diagnosed from Sore Toe

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Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia—An unexpected diagnosis from a toe

with chronic osteomyelitis

D.D. McCaffreya, , N.W. a, L. Venkatramanb and S.A.

a, ,

aMusgrave Park Hospital, Stockman's Lane, Belfast BT9 7JB, County

Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

bDepartment of Pathology, Royal Hospital, Grosvenor Road,

Belfast BT12 6BA, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Received 14 February 2006; accepted 13 May 2006. Available online

14 September 2006.

Abstract

The foot may be the first site of presentation for systemic disease.

We present a case in which histopathological examination of a toe

specimen resected for chronic osteomyelitis demonstrated

pathological features in keeping with a diagnosis of chronic

lymphocytic leukaemia. Subsequent haematological evaluation

confirmed this diagnosis.