Measuring WBCs

• The Basics
• Reactive
• Terms

• Acute Leukemia
• Dysplasia
• Myeloproliferative

• Acute
• Chronic 

Quiz Please

• Since a malignant cell can develop at any stage of maturation in the myeloid line (WBC, RBC or megakaryocytes), the morphology of the leukemic infiltrate can vary from patient to patient.
• The World Health Organization scheme is the newest classification system and is based on identifiable genetic mutations.
• The older, French-American-British (FAB) classification scheme, grouped acute myelogenous leukemias by appearance of malignant cell
• The cell's level of maturation and cell line it came from.
• The newer WHO, genetic scheme, is much better for establishing prognosis and helping determine optimal therapy.

Features common to AML blasts (the malignant cells)
peroxidase positive granules in the cytoplasm
Auer rods (not always present, but important when seen)