Gaucher Cells in Chronic Myelocytic Leukemia: An Acquired Abnormality

A patient with CML is presented in whom Gaucher’s cells were seen in the bone marrow and other tissues. Biochemical and electron microscopic studies established the similarity of these cells to those found in Gaucher’s disease. Evidence is presented which indicates that the granulocyte is normally the major source of sphingolipid and that the Gaucher’s cells seen in CML arise from excessive granulocyte turnover.