Tetrasomy 8 as a primary chromosomal abnormality in a child with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia: a case report and review of the literature

Tetrasomy 8 is a relatively rare chromosomal abnormality in hematological d isorders, and is mostly associated with myeloid malignancies and poor progn osis. In a number of cases, tetrasomy 8 has been reported as an accompanyin g anomaly with other chromosomal changes. In this report, we describe a 14- year-old girl with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia associated with tetrasom y 8 (primary) and trisomy 6, 19 and 20. She died 6 months after diagnosis, suggesting a relatively poor prognosis for AML with tetrasomy 8. To the bes t of our knowledge, this is the first report of a tetrasomy 8 abnormality a ssociated with subtype FAB M7. Interestingly, this abnormality has not been previously reported in childhood AML patients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science I nc. All rights reserved.