Role of immunophenotyping in the diagnosis of acute leukemia

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed to compare the diagnosis of acute leukemia based on morphology and cytochemistry with the diagnosis based on immunophenotyping. The study was carried out in the Hematology department of Dr. Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi from September, 1996 to August, 1998. Of 100 cases of acute leukemia of 2 to 50 years of age, inducted from various hospitals and laboratories of Karachi, our results showed that among 43 cases classified as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [ALL] on morphology and cytochemistry, 35 [81%] were ALL, 4 [9%] turned out to be Acute Myeloid Leukemia [AML] and 4 [9%] were bi-phenotypic on immunophenotyping. Similarly, among 46 cases classified as AML on morphology and cytochemistry, 38 [83%] were AML, 5 [11%] turned out to be ALL, 2 [4%] were bi-phenotypic, while 1[2%] was still unclassified on immunophenotyping. Finally, out of 11 unclassified cases, 6 [55%] were ALL, 4 [36%] were AML and 1 [9%] remained unclassified. Therefore, more than 80% of the cases of acute leukemia were classified according to their respective lineages by morphology and cytochemistry. Immunophenotyping provided correct diagnosis in 99% of cases establishing its efficacy in correct diagnosis of those cases of acute leukemia, which are difficult to be diagnosed on morphology and cytochemistry