THE DIAGNOSIS OF LEUKEMIA BY TISSUE CULTURE.

A shallow glass slide chamber technique has been used for the short-term tissue culture of peripheral leukocytes and marrow. Seventy-three normal persons and 105 patients with various hematologic disorders were studied. Characteristic culture patterns were observed in normal individuals and in patients with leukemia. The technique was found to be of value for distinguishing leukemia from conditions which mimic it and for defining the malignant nature of some of the myeloproliferative disorders. On the basis of repeated studies in 22 patients with leukemia while under treatment, the peripheral leukocyte tissue culture technique was not found to be a sensitive enough guide for the control of therapy.