Spontaneous regression of congenital leukaemia with an 8;16 translocation

Congenital leukaemia (CL) is a rare disorder that presents with extramedull ary infiltrates and a myeloid phenotype. CL can progress rapidly without ad equate treatment, but, paradoxically, may also remit spontaneously. Because of the significant toxicity involved in delivering chemotherapy to newborn s, it is important to identify those newborns who may not require treatment . We describe an infant who presented at 1 week of age with congenital myel oid leukaemia. Cytogenetic analysis revealed a t(8;16)(q11;p13) translocati on. The infant's leukaemia underwent a spontaneous regression. This case fu rther confirms the possibility of spontaneous remission in congenital leuka emia. Moreover, it suggests that the presence of a clonal cytogenetic aberr ation does not preclude the possibility of a spontaneous regression in CL.