title: Rare variant of acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
abstract: Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a peculiar sub-type of acute myeloblastic leukaemia characterised by presence of atypical promyelocytes in bone marrow and peripheral blood and common occurrence of haemorrhagic episodes associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation. Two morphological forms of APL are recognised--typical hypergranular and microgranular or M3 variant. This microgranular form of APL is rare but has got some peculiar features and often can be diagnosed by peripheral blood smear examination alone without bone marrow examination. Three cases of microgranular form of APL observed during a period of 6 months are reported here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, RG Kar Medical College, Calcutta.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged