IMMUNOPHENOTYPING OF ACUTE-LEUKEMIA AT KING-FAISAL-SPECIALIST-HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH-CENTER

During a 20 month period, 133 bone marrow samples from an equal number of patients with acute leukemia were immunophenotyped. Patients range d in age from two to 68 years with a mean of 23 years. Eighty-four (63 .2%) were classified as acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) with the foll owing immunologic subclassification: common ALL 83.3%, T-cell ALL 11.9 %, null-cell ALL 2.4% and 2.4% differentiated B-cell ALL. Twenty-eight cases (21%) were classified as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 16 ca ses (12%) demonstrated biphenotypic features. Concordance with morphol ogy and cytochemistry was observed in 129 cases (97%). Four cases (3%) manifested discrepancy between immunophenotyping, morphology and cyto chemistry. We conclude that immunophenotyping by flow cytometry is a u seful and reliable method for classification of acute leukemia, especi ally when interpreted in the light of morphology and cytochemistry.