Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2025 May 20;18(1):751-755.
doi: 10.1159/000546368. eCollection 2025 Jan-Dec.

Cervical Lymphadenopathy in Concomitant CML and Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Afia Aziz  1 , Awni Alshurafa  2 , Mohammad Yassin  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Cervical Lymphadenopathy in Concomitant CML and Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Afia Aziz et al. Case Rep Oncol. .

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic myeloid leukemia is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of mature and maturing granulocytes in the bone marrow, along with the presence of the Philadelphia chromosome. Lymphadenopathy is an uncommon initial manifestation of CML and is typically attributed to the disease itself. However, with the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which can affect T-cell-mediated immunity, new or persistent lymphadenopathy in CML patients warrants investigation to rule out opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis (TB), or progression to the blast phase of CML.

Case presentation: A 35-year-old male diagnosed with chronic-phase CML initially presented with cervical lymphadenopathy. The lymphadenopathy was initially attributed to CML. Further evaluation, including a lymph node biopsy, revealed concurrent TB infection. Treatment with appropriate anti-tuberculous therapy led to the resolution of the lymphadenopathy.

Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering opportunistic infections, such as TB, in CML patients presenting with lymphadenopathy, particularly those on TKI therapy. Prompt investigation and appropriate management are crucial to avoid complications and ensure optimal patient outcomes.

Keywords: Chronic myeloid leukemia; Lymphadenopathy; Tuberculosis; Tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest to declare.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Yassin MA, Taher A, Mathews V, Hou HA, Shamsi T, Tuğlular TF, et al. MERGE: a multinational, multicenter observational registry for myeloproliferative neoplasms in Asia, including Middle East, Turkey, and Algeria. Cancer Med. 2020;9(13):4512–26. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Yousef Khan F, Dosa K, Fuad A, Ibrahim W, Alaini A, Osman L, et al. Disseminated tuberculosis among adult patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital, Qatar: a five-year hospital-based study. Mycobact Dis. 2016;6(2):212.
    1. Liu CJ, Hong YC, Teng CJ, Hung MH, Hu YW, Ku FC, et al. Risk and impact of tuberculosis in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia: a nationwide population-based study in Taiwan. Int J Cancer. 2015;136(8):1881–7. - PubMed
    1. Găman AM, Bold A, Vladareanu AM. A case of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia. Rom J Morphol Embryol. 2013;54:1141–5. - PubMed
    1. Abdulla MAJ, Aldapt MB, Chandra P, El Akiki S, Alshurafa A, Nashwan AJ, et al. Chronic myeloid leukemia in adolescents and young adults: clinicopathological variables and outcomes. Oncology. 2024;102(12):1018–28. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types