Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a ß-thalassemia intermedia child: A case report.

BACKGROUND: ß-thalassemia intermedia (ßTI) is one of the hemoglobinopathies. It constitutes 10% of ß-thalassemia cases yet being associated with a better quality of life than ß-thalassemia major (ßTM). CASE SUMMARY: We recently reported the first case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from Egypt in a child with ßTM, and we herein report the first case of ALL from Egypt in a child with ßTI. In this report, literature was reviewed for cases of malignancies associated with ßTI and the possible factors underling the relationship between the two entities. CONCLUSION: We stress that physicians should have a high index of suspicion of malignancies in thalassemia patients if they present with any suggestive symptoms or signs.