Acute myeloid leukemia other diagnostic studies

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2] Carlos A Lopez, M.D. [3]

Overview

Other diagnostic studies for acute myeloid leukemia include cytogenetics, bone marrow biopsy, flow cytometry, RT-PCR and FISH.

Other Diagnostic Studies

Cytochemistry

This is a test used to differentiate acute myeloid leukemia from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Using a stain which reacts to a particular type of leukemic cells. The stain causes the granules of most acute myeloid leukemia cells to appear as black spots under the microscope, but it does not cause acute lymphoblastic cells to change colors.

Flow cytometry and Immunohistochemistry

In these tests special antibodies are used to detect cancer cells and thus to differentiate acute myeloid leukemia from other leukemias.

PCR

PCR is a highly sensitive DNA test used to recognize cancer cells in acute myeloid leukemia.

Biopsy

Bone marrow examination is often performed to identify the type of abnormal blood cells; however, if there are many leukemic cells circulating in the peripheral blood, a bone marrow biopsy may not be necessary

Bone marrow is examined via light microscopy as well as flow cytometry to diagnose the presence of leukemia, to differentiate acute myeloid leukemia from other types of leukemia (e.g. acute lymphoblastic leukemia), and to classify the subtype of disease. A sample of marrow or blood is typically also tested for chromosomal translocations by routine cytogenetics or fluorescent in situ hybridization.