CHRONIC MYELOMONOCYTIC LEUKEMIA - CRITERIA FOR DIAGNOSIS AND PROGNOSIS - SPECIFIC PROSPECTS FOR CHILDREN

The distinction between myeloid and monocytic proliferations has recen tly been investigated by the French-American-British group. They disti nguished three main entities: 1) typical chronic granulocytic leukemia (BCR negative), 2) atypical chronic myeloid leukemia associated with dysplastic features and 3) chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) (BCR negative). These subgroups can be predicted by using parameters such as the percentage of peripheral basophiles (>2%) and the presence of i mmature granulocytes (>20%) for the prediction of chronic granulocytic leukemia; the presence of peripheral monocytes and more than 10% of e rythroid precursors in the bone marrow for CMML; and the association o f dysgranulocytic features and peripheral immature granulocytes for at ypical chronic myeloid leukemia. These morphologic criteria are expect ed to clarify the definition of CMML in adults as well as in children.