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Hand mirror cell leukemia—immunologic and ultrastructural studies
Author(s) -
ShahReddy Ila,
Mirchandani Ila,
Bishop Carter R.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19810215)47:4<715::aid-cncr2820470415>3.0.co;2-6
Subject(s) - medicine , ultrastructure , leukemia , pathology , virology , immunology
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with hand mirror cell (HMC) variant was diagnosed in a 26‐year‐old black man in May 1978. Hemoglobin was 3.6 g/dl; the platelet count was 19.0 × 10 9 /1; leukocyte count was 8.4 × 10 9 /1 with 40% blasts, 66% of which had HMC appearance. Cytochemical studies, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase level, and immunologic marker studies indicated a non‐T/non‐B lymphoblastic origin of the leukemic population. Electron microscopic studies confirmed the hand mirror appearance. Mitochondria were more numerous in these cells compared with other lymphoid cells. Cytogenetic studies showed a 46XY karyotype. Our studies confirmed the previous studies reported by Stass, et al. 22 of lymphoblastic origin of HMC leukemia. The patient responded to treatment with vincristine, prednisone and L‐asparaginase and went into complete remission. It appears that this morphologic variant of ALL does exist and is not an artifact.