title: CD34 positive-microgranular variant of acute promyelocytic leukemia in a child.
abstract: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in which abnormal promyelocytes predominate. APL is rare in children (approximately 10% of childhood AML) and is characterized by a higher incidence of hyperleukocytosis, an increased incidence of microgranular morphology, the presence of balanced t(15;17)(q22;q11.2-12) translocation, and more frequent occurrence of the PML-RARα isoforms bcr 2 and bcr 3 compared to adults. The cytomorphology of microgranular variant blasts is obviously different from AML M3 blasts; these cells have a nongranular or hypogranular cytoplasm or contain fine dust-like cytoplasmic azurophil granules that may not be apparent by light microscopy. This case report emphasizes the importance of a high index of suspicion for the diagnosis of APL, the hypogranular variant in particular. They are responsive to differentiation therapy with all trans-retinoic acid and complete remission in seen in >80% cases.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology, R & D, Triesta Reference Laboratory, HCG, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors: Ashwini R
authors: AR
authors: Nargund
authors: Geeta V
authors: GV
authors: Patil
authors: C P
authors: CP
authors: Raghuram
authors: Eswarachary
authors: E
authors: Venkataswamy
mesh_terms: D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008853:Microscopy
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34