Acute Leukemia Panel

The test helps in distinguishing the specific type of Leukemia. There are different types of Leukemia such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) and their subtypes. These can be present with blasts or abnormal cells in the peripheral blood, body fluids, bone marrow and can also present with cytopenia.

 In this test, the morphological evaluation of the bone marrow is done followed by flow cytometry. It helps in a proper diagnosis, choosing the right therapy and monitoring of the patient.

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In simple terms, cancer is defined as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Cancer can develop anywhere in the body. In leukemia, this rapid, out-of-control growth of abnormal cells takes place in the bone marrow. These abnormal cells then spill into the bloodstream. Unlike other cancers, Leukemia generally doesn’t form into a mass (tumour) that can be seen in imaging tests, such as X-rays.

Acute Leukemia occurs when a hematopoietic stem cell undergoes malignant transformation into primitive, undifferentiated cell with abnormal longevity. These lymphoid cells or myeloid cells proliferate abnormally, replacing normal marrow tissue and hematopoietic cells.

Acute Leukemia panel includes:

• WBC count
• Blast count
• Immunophenotypic markers
• T-lymphoid markers
• B-lymphoid markers
• Myelomonocytic markers
• Non-lineage specific markers

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children, there are good chances of cure after treatment. Acute lymphocytic

Acute Leukemia panel is useful for:

• For the diagnosis, classification of acute Leukemia and prognostication.
• Distinguish Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and further immunologic subtyping of ALL.
• Distinguish between chronic lymph proliferative disorders and acute Leukemia.
• Recognizing AML with minimal morphological or cytochemical evidence of differentiation, AML with monocytic differentiation, acute megakaryoblastic leukemia and acute mixed lineage leukemia.

If your doctor thinks you might have acute leukemia, he or she will need to check samples of cells from your blood and bone marrow to be sure. Other tissue and cell samples may also be taken to help guide treatment.

Signs and symptoms of Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia may include:

• Bleeding from the gums
• Bone pain
• Fever
• Frequent infections
• Frequent or severe nosebleeds
• Lumps caused by swollen lymph nodes in and around the neck, armpits, abdomen or groin
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness, fatigue or a general decrease in energy

Other leukemia symptoms can be different from type to type.

Interpretation:

 Your healthcare provider may use many tools to interpret acute leukemia through various tests.

Once the provider makes an interpretation, there may be additional tests to see whether the cancer has spread. These include imaging tests and a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure to collect and test cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Therefore, please connect with your Physician for appropriate interpretation.