Hemophagocytosis by leukemic blasts in a case of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with t(16;21)(p11;q22)

We report the case of a 2-year-3-month-old boy with acute megakaryublastic leukemia showing hernophagocytosis by leukemic blasts. The chromosome analy sis of his bone marrow revealed t(16;21)(p11;q22). In addition to the prese nt case, we found 4 other acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases associated wit h hemophagocytosis and t(16;21)(p11;q22) in the literature, of which 3 were megakaryoblastic. Although the syndrome of AML with FAB-M4/5 morphology, t (8;16)(p11 ;p13), and erythrophagocytosis is well known, leukemic blasts of FAB-M7 morphology showing t(16;21)(pll;q22) may be underscored for their p hagocytic activity. (C) 1999 The Japanese Society of Hematology.