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


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.


CONCLUSIONS
This case illustrates the usefulness of multiparametric flow cytometry for assessing minor leukemic populations.
Bellido
M
M
Department of Hematology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain.
Martino
R
R
Aventín
A
A
Carnicer
M J
MJ
Rubiol
E
E
López
O
O
Sierra
J
J
Nomdedéu
J F
JF
D000208:Acute Disease; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019070:Cell Lineage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*