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ALL
Acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) is a malignancy of lymphoblasts (precursor
T or B cells). There are three morphologic subtypes.
L1 blasts are small and uniform with scant cytoplasm
and inconspicuous nucleoli.
L2 blasts are larger and more heterogeneous with variable
amounts of cytoplasm, larger nucleoli, and irregularly shaped nuclei.
L3
blasts correspond to Burkitt's
lymphoma cells and are medium-sized uniform blasts with basophilic
and often vacuolated cytoplasm and prominent nucleoli
The
L1 and L2 cells are similar to those of lymphoblastic
lymphoma.
Because of replacement of normal bone marrow cells by blasts in acute
leukemia (ALL or AML), normal blood cell production
is decreased and anemia, thrombocytopenia, or neutropenia are usually present
and would be fatal without treatment. Acute leukemia can occur in all age
groups. In childhood, acute leukemia is usually ALL.
ALL | AML | CLL
| CML | CMPD | MDS
| Lymphomas | Solid
Tumors
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University of Wisconsin Cytogenetic Services
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