[Clinicopathological studies of the gastrointestinal tract in adult T-cell leukemia patients].

We analysed the digestive symptoms and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract lesions in 61 patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL). Digestive symptoms were found in 36 patients (59.0%) at the onset of leukemia, and in 45 patients (73.8%) at the first medical examination. X-ray examination of the GI tract was made in 22 patients, and abnormal stomach mucosa patterns were found in 20 patients (90.9%). Endoscopic examination of the GI tract was carried out in 18 patients, and it revealed that most of the stomach mucosa was accompanied by edema and redness. Erosions and ulcers also were found in many patients. A granular shadow, which was noted during the x-ray examination, could not be confirmed by endoscopy. A pathological examination of biopsied specimens was made in 13 patients, and infiltration of leukemic cells into the stomach was observed in 10 of the 13 cases. These findings suggest that leukemic infiltration into digestive tracts is related to the development of digestive symptoms in ATL patients.