Open AccessAML Subtype M5 Linked to Pulmonary Leukemic Infiltrates and Respiratory Failure and the Importance of Early Induction Chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Yvonne I. Chu,
Ümit Tapan,
Adam Lerner
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of hematological malignancies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1925-4032
pISSN - 1925-4024
DOI - 10.5430/jhm.v4n1p1
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , lung , induction chemotherapy , biopsy , lung biopsy , myeloid leukemia , pathology , leukemia
Currently there are no practice guidelines for evaluating lung infiltrates in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). More specifically, it remains unclear if there is a need to obtain a lung tissue biopsy prior to the initiation of induction chemotherapy. This clinical question is particularly important in instances in which obtaining a lung tissue diagnosis can potentially delay anti-leukemic treatment. Here we describe a case of such lung infiltrates in which a newly diagnosed AML patient underwent a diagnostic lung biopsy before receiving chemotherapy, was shown to have leukemic infiltration of lung tissue, and subsequently had complete resolution of lung infiltrates following initiation of chemotherapy.