Detection of bone marrow relapse in patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung.

From a total of 874 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCC), a series of 104 patients were reviewed to determine if bone marrow relapses are detectable by routine clinical investigations. Autopsy, including microscopical bone marrow examination, was performed in all the 104 patients and bone metastases were disclosed in 36 patients (35%). After retrospective evaluation it was concluded that dose modification, occurrence of leukopenia plus fever, need of blood transfusion, leukopenia, and thrombopenia during treatment all were without predictive value in the detection of bone marrow relapse. Increased concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase were, however, positively correlated to the finding of bone marrow relapse.