Abstract
Background: Leukemias constitute the most common diagnostic group of childhood cancers worldwide, and in India, accounting for about 31% of childhood cancers. More than 95% of childhood leukemias are acute leukemias. Symptoms and signs are a consequence of bone marrow failure or the involvement of medullary or extramedullary sites by leukemia.
Aim: To study the presenting clinical features and laboratory findings of children with leukemia and to study their relationship with different subtypes.
Materials & Method: This descriptive study was conducted in the department of Pathology, Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode, based on the details of all the newly diagnosed cases of leukemia in children aged between 0 - 12 years from 1st January 2013 to 30th June 2017.
Results & Conclusion: Out of 233 cases of childhood leukemia 232 were acute leukemia (99.6%) and one was chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Male: Female ratio was 1.6:1. Most prevalent age group was 1to 4 years. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was the commonest type of leukemia, B- ALL being the predominant immunophenotype. The most common subtype of AML was AML with maturation. B-ALL was more frequent in younger children while T-ALL and AML in older children. Most common features at presentation were fever, bleeding manifestations, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, pallor and lymphadenopathy. T-ALL presented with higher leucocyte count and hemoglobin concentration compared to other types. Most of the results were comparable with the available data from literature.
Keywords: Childhood leukemia, Acutelymphoblastic leukemia, Acute myeloblastic leukemia, B-ALL, T-ALL
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Corresponding Author
Dr. Anupama A. Manjula
Additional Professor in Pathology, Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, Pin: 673006
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Mob No: 9446345582
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v6i3.29
