INTRODUCTION

AML is the predominant form of leukemia during the neonatal period but represents a small proportion of cases during childhood and adolescence. Approximately 15,000 new cases of AML occur annually, representing approximately 35 percent of the annual new cases of leukemia in the United States^2.

Monocytic leukemia was first reported by Reschad and Schilling-Torgau¹ in 1913. The proportion of monocytic cells is usually greater than 75 percent. The total leukocyte count is higher in a larger proportion of patients, and hyperleukocytosis occurs more frequently (approximately 35%) than in other variants^3-5. The marrow and blood cells may be largely monoblasts (acute monoblastic leukemia) or more mature-appearing promonocytes and monocytes (acute monocytic leukemia).