Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: diagnosis and detection of minimal residual disease following therapy.
Flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) is an important diagnostic modality in the evaluation of patients who have suspected or known acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It enables rapid identification, quantification, and immunophenotypic characterization of leukemic blasts, permitting accurate and timely diagnosis. Beyond facilitating the classification of ALL into fundamental diagnostic categories, FCI may anticipate recurrent cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities. FCI permits the detection of leukemic blasts after therapy at a level lower than that achievable by conventional microscopic examination. Flow cytometric detection of minimal residual disease is among the strongest prognostic factors in patients who have ALL and may provide an opportunity for more precise risk-adapted therapies.
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Special Hematology Laboratory, Hartford Hospital, 80 Seymour Street, Hartford, CT 06102-5037, USA. jdigius@harthosp.org
Joseph A
JA
Digiuseppe
D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy