What Does This Blood Report Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 30 Mar 2017

Question: My mother has had recent bloodwork taken over the course of the past 3-4 months. The first time she had it done, the results came back with elevated monocytes around the 3,000 range. Her doctor said to come back in 2 months and have it retested again. She just had it done the other day and the results came back now at 5,000. She shows no symptoms of infection, and is in very good shape as she runs daily and is an avid fitness fanatic. She was referred to a hematologist who possibly suggested leukemia? Do they diagnose leukemia just through a CBC panel?

Thank you for your help. Obviously, we are all very concerned and worried that she now has leukemia (even with a normal white blood cell count).

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hello dear. She requires further tests.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear.
I have gone through the details and I understand your concern.

So ideally speaking, an expert hematopathologist can diagnose acute leukemia on a cbc panel. However, some additional tests are required to confirm it and to further diagnose the type of leukemia. In your mother's case, the elevation on monocyte counts is very much so it may be a leukemia if there are other features on peripheral smear of blood , like dysplasia and abnormal looking cells.

Confirmation will be by a bone marrow examination and flowcytometry. Otherwise , monocyte counts can be seen elevated in collagen vascular diseases and chronic infection like tuberculosis too.
Please visit a hematologist and get her evaluated.

Feel free to ask further.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (7 hours later)

thank you very much for your reply. My apologies, I have been told the incorrect information!

my mother's lymphocytes are elevated ---- NOT monocytes. The lymphocytes were 5.0. This was an increase from 3, approximately 3 months ago.

Does this still sound like leukemia? Thank you so much for your reply! I will also send you an image of the recent bloodwork that was done in both February, and as of yesterday. Thank you again for your assistance! hope to hear from you soon.

attached, please find her bloodwork from February and the 2nd one from yesterday. Thank you for your assistance!

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello. It may be due to some occult viral illness

Detailed Answer:
Hello. I have gone through the details. So mild lymphocytosis with normal wbc and no atypical cells is mostly related to occult viral illness and there is no need to worry. Get it repeat after a month or so. Possibility of leukaemia is unlikely in the presence of normal wbc counts and no atypical cells on smear.
Thanks and regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy