[Fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of extramedullary leukemic infiltration].

OBJECTIVES

To assess the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in extramedullary leukemic infiltration.

METHODS

The results of FNAC from 65 cases of extramedullary leukemic infiltration were reviewed and analyzed.

RESULTS

In the 65 cases studied, there were 24 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 25 cases of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 6 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and 10 cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia (CML). The commonest site of infiltration was lymph node, which accounted for 73.8% of all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Accurate cytologic diagnosis of extramedullary leukemic infiltration relies on detailed morphologic assessment as well as correlation with clinical examination and other relevant laboratory findings, especially in patients whose initial symptom being a local mass. Leukemic infiltration, which represents proliferation of primitive cells, should be distinguished from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Morphologic assessment by oil immersion lens and examination of peripheral blood smears is useful in this respect.