Institutional performance in application of the FAB classification of acute leukemia. The Southwest Oncology Group experience.
Institutional performance in application of the French-American-British (FAB) classification of acute leukemia in The Southwest Oncology Group is presented, demonstrating a disparity between institutional and expert performance. A significant improvement is shown with an educational effort coupled with experience in use of the classification, and the importance of cytochemistry in the use of the classification is illustrated. A simplification of the classification, merging M1, M2, and M4 as M7, is proposed. This simplification improves institutional performance in use of the classification, while preserving distinctions that appear clinically important.
D000208:Acute Disease; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000145:classification*; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000145:classification; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000145:classification; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education; D010336:Pathology / Q000193:education