Sipple Syndrome and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

ACUTE leukemia, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported to occur with Sipple syndrome. Although acute lymphoblastic leukemia is not derived from neuroectoderm, it might arise in this setting because of excessive antigenic stimulation of the lymphoreticular system by products of synthesis released from medullary thyroid carcinoma. The presence or absence of chromosomal defects and the status of the immune system in patients with Sipple syndrome have not been established. These factors may also be important in the etiology of acute leukemia. In the following case, however, it must be admitted that acute lymphoblastic leukemia may have been only a fortuitous association. Report of a Case A 28-year-old man was admitted to Walter Reed General Hospital on June 21, 1966, with the chief complaints of severe dyspnea on exertion, dizziness, and blurred vision over the past few weeks. The patient had had episodes of palpitation, substernal pain,