The Frequency &. Diagnostic Importance of Subtypes of Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia

Abstract

Objectives: We study the frequency ofthe Acute Myeloblastic leukemia ( AML) on the basis of age, sex, clinical and laboratory findings. We also highlight the diagnostic importance of French, American, British (FAB) subtypes such as Ml, M2 and M3 of AM L identified on morphology of myeloblast and with cytochemical stains. Study Design: An observational study. Place and Duration: This study was conducted at Pathology Department and Medical Ward of Peoples University of Medical &. Health Science Hospital (PUMHSW) at Shaheed Benazir Abad from January 2011 to December 2012. Patients and Method: All the 58 patients of AML admitted in Medical ward of (PUMHSW) Hospital were included in this study, out of all these patients, 39 were male and their ages ranged between 20 to 68 years. The diagnosis of AML was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings, the blood samples & bone marrow biopsy samples from these patients were sent to the pathology department of (PUMHSW) for the laboratory diagnosis ofAML. Results: In a total of 58 cases of AML, 39 (67.3%) were males and 19 (32.7%) were females with M:F ratio 2.05:1, their age ranged between 20 to 70 years and mean age was 44±24 SD years and most common (FAB) subtypes of Acute myeloblastic leukemia were M I, M2 and M3, while M4 to M7 subtypes are not detected. The common presenting sign and symptoms were pallor, fever, bleeding, hepatosplenomegaly. The laboratory findings such as low hemoglobin, high leucocytes count 50,000 to 350,000 /cmm and low platelets count 40,000 to 110,000 /crnm were evaluated by automated complete blood count analyzer Nihon Kohden Cell Tac, while examination of peripheral blood and bone marrow smears were showing more than 20% myeloblasts identified by their morphology and by using cytochemical stains that differentiate subtypes ofAML such as Ml, M2 and M3. Conclusion: Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia of subtypes M1 M2 and M3 are more common in adult male than the female. The diagnosis of these subtypes of AML is essential by the morphological criteria of myeloblasts and cytochemical staining methods because different subtypes of AML behave differently needs different form of treatment.