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IMAGE DESCRIPTIONS

Peripheral blood with blasts characterized by intermediate to large cell size, high nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio, immature chromatin with prominent nucleoli, scant to moderate amount of cytoplasm with Auer rod in this example – consistent with myeloblasts morphologically

Peripheral blood with atypical granulocyte (pseudo Pelger-Huet) often seen with AML

Bone marrow aspirate with predominance of blasts and occasional more mature granulocytic precursors with dysplastic nuclei and pink “salmon” colored cytoplasm often seen with AML with t(8;21)

Bone marrow core biopsy shows complete effacement by mononuclear cells

Bone marrow core biopsy high power – predominance of large mononuclear immature cells (blasts) consistent with acute myeloid leukemia

FISH analysis for t(15;17), although not favored in this case, is important to exclude. It is dual color dual fusion probe set. Normal pattern is two orange two green signals per cell (PML(15) – orange, RARA(17) – green), which is observed in this specimen.

FISH analysis for t(8;21). Dual color dual fusion probe set. Normal pattern is two orange two green signals per cell (AML1 (RUNX1)(21) - green, ETO (8) - orange). Abnormal pattern is one green, one orange, two fused signals (yellow), which is present here. This is consistent with the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia with recurrent cytogenetic abnormality (t(8;21)).

Conventional karyotyping displays translocation t(8;21)(q22;q22)

POST CHEMOTHERAPY FINDINGS On therapy, bone marrow aspirate - increased number of mast cells, which were unmasked after blast population was eliminated due to chemotherapy

Post-therapy bone marrow core biopsy shows hypercellularity, but not quite as dense.

Closer inspection shows increased small cells with round nuclei and abundant, slightly granular cytoplasm.

Same as previous, higher power. These are mast cells previously obscured by the dense blast population and are revealed only after chemotherapy effect. Mast cells are increased, cluster, and some show spindle shape morphology, which is an atypical feature.

On therapy, bone marrow CD34 immunostain displays no significant increase in CD34+ blasts – therapy works!

However, tryptase immunostain now displays markedly increased mast cells.

CD25 is co-expressed in mast cells – expression is an atypical feature and a minor criterion for systemic mastocytosis.

Flow cytometric study showing increased bright CD117+ mast cells which aberrantly express CD25 or CD2/CD25.

BACKGROUND

Systemic mastocytosis with associated clonal hematological non-mast-cell lineage disease (SM-AHNMD).

To make this diagnosis, criteria for systemic mastocytosis have to be met as well as one of the hematological neoplasm in the WHO classification.

Systemic mastocytosis criteria (one major + one minor or at least three minor):

Major criterion: multifocal, dense infiltrates of mast cells (>=15 in aggregates) in bone marrow sections and/or other extracutaneous organ(s)

Minor criteria:

1. >25% of mast cells are spindle-shaped or atypical morphology (degranulated)

2. Detection of c-kit point mutation at codon 816

3. Mast cells that co-express CD117 with CD2 and/or CD25

4. Serum total tryptase persistently > 20ng/mL (unless there is a clonal myeloid disorder present, in which case this parameter is invalid)

CLINICAL

Patient is a female in her 30s who had non-specific general symptoms for a few months thought to be due to common viral infection. However, she was getting worse and eventually was admitted to the hospital. CBC and differential displayed blasts in the peripheral blood and a full work up for acute leukemia was initiated.

TREATMENT

Currently, there is no cure for systemic mastocytosis. AML with t(8;21) is usually associated with a good response to chemotherapy and a high complete remission rate when treated with high dose cytarabine in the consolidation phase.

PROGNOSIS

Systemic mastocytosis may have an indolent course with a normal life expectancy or very aggressive, with only few months survival. AML with t(8;21) appears to have a good prognosis. However, presence of c-kit mutation may adversely affect the prognosis. Whether these two conditions have an independent or synergistic effect on prognosis remains to be seen.

REFERENCES

WHO Classification of Tumours of Heamatopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues, 2008, 4th edition

Last updated: 2010-02-17
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