Leukemia diagnosis

Abstract

Laboratory diagnosis for acute leukemia classification is necessary for both treatment and prognosis. According to French-American-British (FAB) classification in 1975, acute leukemia was classified into Acute Non Lymphocytic Leukemia (ANLL) or Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). Based on morphology and cytochemistry of peripheral blood cells and leukemic cells from bone marrow, AML was further categorized into M1-M7. For ALL, it was grouped in L1-L3. Due to the continuous knowledge in leukemic blast cells and advance in molecular biology, the classification of leukemia was developed by using surface marker molecules or immunophenotype and abnormality in the karyotype of chromosome. In 2008, WHO classification of acute leukemia is based on morphology, immunological markers on the cell surface, karyotypic abnormality and molecular cytogenetic disorders. Taken together, it is realizable to distinguish different types of acute leukemia and provide the valuable prognosis. At present, classification and identification of leukemic cells are of importance in effective therapeutic management and gradual increased in the survival rate.