Important elements in acute myeloid leukaemia diagnosis
From haematologyetc.co.uk
1. Flow cytometric typing of acute leukaemia should always be regarded as provisional.
The initial findings of flow cytometry can direct initial treatment. However, blast cell count and lineage may sometimes be subject to modification as other evidence emerges. Reporting should reflect this.
2. It is important to establish that the cells analused have characteristics of primitive "blast cells"
Several methods may be used (ideally together) these include identification of morphological features of leukaemic blast cells; a clinical background that is consistent with acute leukaemia; the presnec of immuophenotypic features of "primitive" phenotype.
3. After phenotyping the cells flow cytometric the findings may still be modified by other investigations:
For example Markers found on trephine may identify features of alternative lineage, cytogenetic features may identify a specific type of leukaemia, genetic features may assign a specific lineage or type.