Leukemic relapse as T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia and a minor T-cell clone at diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND

OBJECTIVES

Lineage classification needs to be established before starting chemotherapy in acute leukemias. In some cases, mixed populations can be found and these are differentiated by antigenic expression patterns.

DESIGN AND

METHODS

We report the case of a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia whose relapse was classified as T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL).

RESULTS

Flow cytometry analysis at diagnosis enabled us to identify a minor T-cell subclone which progressively increased and became dominant at relapse. There were no changes at cytogenetic and molecular levels.

INTERPRETATION AND

CONCLUSIONS

This case illustrates the usefulness of multiparametric flow cytometry for assessing minor leukemic populations.