Background:The unknown but presumably reduced life expectancy of patients with malignant neoplasms may dissuade surgeons from performing necessity coronary and valvular heart operations. Low-grade small lymphocytic malignancies (encompassing chronic lymphocytic leukemia and some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma) are seen in elderly patients. Open cardiac procedures are known to have increased risk of postoperative infection and other morbidities in these immunodeficient patients.

Methods: Between June 1999 - January 2002 five patients (aged 49-72 years; 1 woman, 4 men) with these lymphocytopathologic diseases (2 with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and 3 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma) underwent cardiac operations. One patient underwent mitral valve replacemant and four patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.

Results: There was no operative death and morbidity. Average stay in hospital was 8 days. During the follow-up to 12 months, 1 patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia underwent chemoteraphy. Cardiac and lymphocytopathologic status remained stable in others.

Conclutions: Patients with low-grade small lymphotic malignancies can undergo cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation with acceptable mortality but with possible increased risk of postoperative infection. If a cardiac operation is planned to a patient with low grade lymphocytic leukemia, an additional prrocedure or approach would not be required than other patients who will be undergone cardiac surgery.

Keywords : Lymphoprolipherative, open heart surgery, lymphoma, leukemia,