DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2018.v06i12.022

Pages: 1077-1080

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is rare in children. It is a subtype of leukaemia arising from a distinct reciprocal translocation involving chromosomes 15 and 17, which results in the PML-RARA fusion gene. ATRA (all-trans retinoic acid) /ATO (arsenic trioxide) is a drug of choice which induces complete remission in more than 93% patients of APML. For this early diagnosis and institution of therapy is important. Our patient 9 years male child presented clinically with ecchymosis and intermittently gum bleeding. From characteristic morphological findings in peripheral smear we reported the case as highly suspicious of APL-M3 and with the bone marrow and cytogenetic study the diagnosis was confirmed. Our patient then received treatment with ATRA/ATO. Following which there was clinical improvement and clearance of blasts and promyelocytes in follow up peripheral smears and bone marrow. It emphasizes the important role of hematology laboratory in the diagnosis and management of the disease.