Translocation (8;21) in oligoblastic leukemia: is this a true myelodysplastic syndrome?

An 8;21 translocation with trisomy 4 is described in a 36-year-old Chinese woman who presented with an oligoblastic leukemia with myelodysplastic (MDS) features. Progression to acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) occurred 3 months after presentation. She died of septicemia without remission. Through a review of the data in 10 cases of oligoblastic leukemia with t(8;21) in the literature, we make the following comments. (i) Oligoblastic leukemia with t(8;21) represents 2-3% of cases with this karyotype. (ii) Such cases behave in a similar manner to de novo AML. (iii) The presence of features of MDS has no affect on the behaviour of the disease. (iv) Such cases should be treated without delay with intensive chemotherapy.