[Early diagnosis of leukaemic transformation of malignant non-hodgkin lymphoma in childhood (author's transl)].

Fresh tumour cells from four children, aged 3-11 years, with malignant non-Hodgkin lymphoma were examined with four different immunological cell markers (E-rosettes, membrane-immunoglobulins, receptors for complement, and receptors for Fc fragment). In three patients a T-cell marker (E-rosettes) was found in most of their tumour cells, the marker differing from that of T-lymphcoytes by different temperature kinetics. This difference may be used to recognise earlier than previously possible the frequently observed diffuse infiltration of bone marrow (leukaemic transformation) and of the nervous system in the course of the disease.