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How Can Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Be Diagnosed?

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Posted on Mon, 9 Feb 2015
Question: What is the sensitivity and specificity for Lumbar puncture for diagnosing ALL (Leukemia)?
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Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (48 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
ALL can be diagnosed by Peripheral Smear & Bone Marrow examination.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) can be diagnosed by peripheral smear examination and bone marrow examination.

More then 20% lymphoblasts are required for diagnosis of ALL. Lumbar puncture is performed for CSF (Cerebro Spinal Fluid) examination.

It is not used for diagnosis of ALL.

It is not specific or sensitive at all for ALL diagnosis.

Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Follow up: Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (25 minutes later)
Ok, I'd appreciate it if you give me the entire article from "Uptodate" on ALL.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Hardik Sanghvi (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I will give you brief information about ALL.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, dear
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the hematologic malignancy of lymphopoitic stem cell that originate in the lymphoid precursor of bone marrow, lymphnode and thymus.

ALL is the most common cancer in children under 15 year of age.

Clinical features are fever, weight loss, weaknesses, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, sternal tenderness etc.

hematologic findings are high total wbc count with more than 20% blast cells, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.

Diagnosis can be done by bone marrow examination and immunochemistry.

Chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. Bone marrow transplantation can be done if not treated by chemotherapy.

Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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Answered by
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Dr. Hardik Sanghvi

Hematologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 7043 Questions

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How Can Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Be Diagnosed?

Brief Answer: ALL can be diagnosed by Peripheral Smear & Bone Marrow examination. Detailed Answer: Hi, dear I have gone through your question. I can understand your concern. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) can be diagnosed by peripheral smear examination and bone marrow examination. More then 20% lymphoblasts are required for diagnosis of ALL. Lumbar puncture is performed for CSF (Cerebro Spinal Fluid) examination. It is not used for diagnosis of ALL. It is not specific or sensitive at all for ALL diagnosis. Hope I have answered your question, if you have doubt then I will be happy to answer. Thanks for using health care magic.