The occurrence of 11q23 cytogenetic abnormalities in drug-induced acute mye
loid leukaemia (AML) is now well recognized. They are most frequently assoc
iated with topoisomerase II inhibitor administration. We here describe the
case history of a 15-year-old child who presented with Stage III B-cell non
-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and was treated with anthracyclines, alkylating a
gents and low-dose mediastinal radiotherapy. She developed an 11q23 mutatio
n-related secondary AML at 11 months after therapy (15 months after her fir
st exposure to drugs; 12 months after the first radiotherapy exposure), pos
sibly the earliest yet reported in a paediatric patient. We discuss this ne
wly recognized early form of refractory, secondary AML and its relationship
to chemoradiotherapy.