Profile of Acute Leukemia and Its Correlation with Morphological Diagnosis

Abstract

Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing hematological malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of immature blood cells. It is broadly classified into two major subtypes: acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The early and accurate diagnosis of acute leukemia is vital for initiating appropriate treatment and improving patient outcomes. Morphological diagnosis, through blood smears and bone marrow biopsies, remains the cornerstone of leukemia classification, although immunophenotyping, cytogenetic analysis, and molecular studies also play significant roles. This study aims to profile the clinical and morphological characteristics of acute leukemia and assess the correlation between the morphological features and definitive diagnosis. The study included a analysis of 100 patients diagnosed with acute leukemia at a tertiary care hospital, in department of pathology. The findings were categorized by cell lineage, morphology, and associated clinical features. A significant correlation was found between morphological characteristics such as blast count, cytoplasm appearance, and nuclear features with the subtypes of leukemia. This study emphasizes the role of morphological assessment as a fundamental tool in the diagnosis and classification of acute leukemia, providing a valuable adjunct to molecular and cytogenetic tests.

Keywords: Acute leukemia, morphological diagnosis, acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, blast cells, hematology.