Acute promyelocytic leukemia PML/RARα positive, typical morphological finding - case report

02/2019

MUDr. Dana Mikulenková

Morfologicko-cytochemická laboratoř, Ústav hematologie a krevní transfuze, Praha

SUMMARY

PML/RARα positive acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by the presence of leukemic promyelocytes in peripheral blood smear and bone marrow aspirate, genetically confirmed PML/RARAα fusion, clinical signs of bleeding and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The majority of cases present with pancytopenia, leukocytosis (more frequently in microgranular variants) is rare. Leukemic promyelocytes differ in nucleus shape and cytoplasmic granulation as compared to their physiological counterparts. The following case report focuses on morphological findings in a patient with hypergranular APL at presentation and relapse.

Key words

acute promyelocytic leukemia, diagnostics, morphology, FAB classification, WHO criteria, faggot cells, cytogenetics, t(15;17), molecular biology, fusion genes, PML/RARα