In a 64‐year‐old female with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, nearly 50 % of the lymphocytes presented one or several globular intracytoplasmic inclusions resembling Russell bodies which were characterized by immunofluorescence as IgM lambda. On electron microscopy, the inclusions looked like cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Surface membrane Ig was not detected and the serum IgM was low. The histology of a lymph node showed a lymphocytic proliferation with evidence of Ig synthesis, compatible with immunocytoma. The aggressive course of the disease necessitated polychemotherapy. This case represents an unusual ill‐defined lymphoproliferative disorder, lying between the B‐CLL and a non‐secretory macroglobulinaemia.

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A 54‐year‐old asymptomatic male patient was followed for more than 7 y and presented a constant T cell lymphocytosis without skin involvement or bone marrow depression. No clinical or haematological aggravation was noted during this follow‐up. Morphologically, the cells were large granular lymphocytes strongly positive for beta‐D‐glucuronidase, negative for acid phosphatase and with features of T cells on transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The immunological studies of the lymphocytes showed the following parameters: E rosettes+, mouse rosettes‐, SmIg‐, OKT3+, OKT4 +, OKT8‐, OKT6‐, Ia‐, TdT‐, NK‐, HTLV‐, decreased PHA and PWM stimulation, no interleukin 2 production and failure to enhance Ig synthesis in a PWM driven system. The karyotype was normal. This case of chronic T cell lymphocytosis with large granular lymphocytes helper profile and defect of helper function, not reported in the literature, may correspond to a distinct entity in the heterogeneous group of chronic T cell disorders.