Page 162 - Clinical Hematology Atlas

146 SECTION FOUR LEUKOCYTES

APPROACH TO ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

The World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumours and Haematopoietic and
Lymphoid Tissues is based on morphology; immunophenotyping; genetic features, including
karyotype and molecular testing; and clinical features. WHO lists the characteristic features
of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) as increased bone marrow cellularity with $20% blasts,
variable white blood cell count, anemia, and thrombocytopenia in the peripheral blood.
AML is separated into four categories:

1. Acute myeloid leukemia with recurrent genetic abnormalities
2. Acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes*
3. Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms*
4. Acute myeloid leukemia, not otherwise specified
This atlas presents characteristic peripheral blood and bone marrow morphology
for each of the AMLs with recurrent genetic abnormalities and those not otherwise
specified together with the associated cytochemical reactions, genetic abnormalities, and
immunophenotypes.

* Diagnosis is, in part, based on patient presentation and as such will not be addressed in this atlas.