Abstract

Introduction: Pediatric leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children. Around 95% cases of pediatric leukemia are acute, characterized by clonal expansion of immature hematopoietic precursor cells, which accounts for one third of all pediatric cancer patients. It is thus become important to recognize the disease on time to ensure good outcome and to prevent initial complications.

Aim: Study aim was to evaluate the clinical and hematological parameters in ALL patients.

Material and Methods: A one year study included 40 patients diagnosed as acute leukemia on peripheral smear in hematology section of Pathology department of MGM medical college Indore was done. Hematological parameters included leukocyte count , hemoglobin level , platelet count and percent of lymphoblasts in peripheral smear whereas the clinical parameters included fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly etc .

Results: WBC ranged from less than10,000 – more than 500000/μL, Hgb between less than7 g/dl – more than 12.5 g/dl and Platelet from less than 20,000 – more than 01 lacs/μL. More than half of the children had all three lineages affected. In majority of patients fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly was present with WBC > 20000/μL, Hgb < 120 g/L and Plt < 50000/μL.

Conclusion: Majority of patients has either clinical features or complete blood count values raising suspicion of ALL, but we point out to the patients with findings within the reference range. With the help of this research work we want to stress the importance of early recognition of signs and symptoms in children with ALL.

Keywords: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, clinical findings, hematological parameters.