Hypercalcemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma: uncommon association.

ABSTRACT

A fifty-nine year old woman is admitted with severe hypercalcemia and other metabolic disorders. The buffy coat showed plasmoblasts in association with chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (CLL). Immunophenotyping revealed different light chains on CLL cells and in plasmoblasts. We discuss the association of hypercalcemia and CLL, its physiopathology and the distinction with Richter's Syndrome. We also review literature descriptions of the uncommon association of CLL and Multiple Myeloma and raise the question of its clonal origin.