review of 170 cases of acute leukemias

ABSTRACT

A retrospective review study was carried out from the cases of acute leukemia diagnosed at the Pathology Department of Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, over a period of five years, from 1994-1998. Out of a total of 170 cases there were 88 patients [52%] diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia [AML]; 79 patients [46%] with acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]; and 3 patients [2%] with acute undifferentiated leukemia [AUL]. They were classified according to the French-American-British [FAB] classification by Giemsa stain and cytochemistry [Sudan Black, periodic acid-Schiff stain [PAS], a-naphthyl acetate and chloracetate esterases]. The study showed M2 as the predominant type of AML with 34 patients [39%]; and 46 patients [58%] were of L2 which was the predominant type of ALL. Their blood picture and bone marrow picture were reviewed