One hundred and thirty six cases of leukemia admitted to Seoul National University
Hospital (55 cases), Kyungpook University Hospital (50 cases) and National Medical
Center(31 cases) during the period of September 1964 to August 1966 were analyzed on
the basis of age and sex incidence, type, subjective and objective symptoms, and
hematological findings. Following were the results:
1. Age and sex incidence by type of leukemia,
The incidence was higher in male than in female in ratio of 1.8 : 1. The acute
leukemias were frequency observed in younger ages with its peak incidence at the age
group between 21 rind 30, decreasing in order of third, fourth and fifth decades (Age
group between 0 and 15 was excluded). The higher: incidence in the chronic type was
observed in this second and third decade% and decreased in order of fourth and fifth
decades. Of the total cases, 75% was acute, and 25% was chronic leukemias. In acute
leukemias, the myelocytic type was observed more common than the lymphocytic type
in ratio of 55 : 26.
The chronic lymphocytic type was distinctly rare compared with the data on the
white races.
2. Subjective and objective symptoms.
Pallor and fever were main complaints with the highest proportion of 68%, and 55%
in acute forms. Hepatomegaly was observed in 50% of the acute type, subcutaneous
bleeding in 45%, and weakness in 50% respectively. In chronic type, splenomegaly was
observed in 75.6%, hepatomegaly in 66.6%. pallor in 57.5%, weakness in 45.3% and
anorexia in 39.3%, respectively.
3. Hematological findings:
a) Erythrocyte count:
The severe degree of anemias was present in the majority of acute leukemias.
Erythrocyte count of 2 to 4 millions Per cubic millimeter was found in 54.3% of acute
leukemias and in 73.0% of chronic leukemias. The erythrocyte count was less than 2
millions per cubic millimeter in 41.5% in acute and in 3.8% of chronic type.
b) Hemoglobin values:
The hemoglobin values were generally in proportion to erythrocyte counts. The
hemoglobin values ware Tess than 10.0 gm/dl in 52.4% of acute type and in 92.4% of
chronic type.
c) Leucocyte count:
The leucocyte count of 10,000 to 50,000 per cubic millimeter was found in 27.7% of
acute type and 15.6% of chronic type.
d) Platelet count:
The majority of patients showed decreased platelet count, especially in the acute type.
The platelet count was ranged between 50,000 to 150,000 per cubic millimeter in 46.4%
of acute type and in 31.8% of chronic type.
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