The Use of the Absolute Eosinophil Count in the Diagnosis of Neoplasms

Abstract

SINCE differentiation of a necrotic neoplasm from an infectious process is often difficult, any diagnostic technics that might help should be welcome. The observation by previous workers^{1 , 2} of an increase in the number of white blood cells accompanied by a relative eosinophilia in patients with various neoplasms suggested that necrotizing tumors stimulate all elements of the leukocyte series, and not solely the neutrophils. If an absolute eosinophilia occurs with necrotizing tumors but not with simple infectious processes, the eosinophil count should prove to be a valuable test in differential diagnosis. This study was undertaken to determine the worth of that . . .