Diagnosis
It is possible to diagnose leukemia through a series of exams in the blood and the bone marrow:
- CBC shows anemia, and often thrombocytopenia with immature leukocytosis in acute leukemias. On blood films, blast cells can be seen. In CML, the leukocyte count may vary from 10 to 600 X 10^9 or even 2000 X 10^9 per liter of blood. In acute leukemias, the majority of patients have blood counts lower than 100 X 10^9 per liters of blood.
- Diagnosis is done by bone marrow aspirate or by observing blast cells in the peripheral blood.
- Genetic studies, karyotyping, immunophenotyping, and molecular studies of the malignant cells help to identify the cause and classify the malignancy. They provide an important prognostic factor. Identification of cell markers helps to identify the cell of origin.