Shift in phenotype of acute T-lymphocytic leukemia to eosinophilic leukemia: a case report

Abstract

Acute T-lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed in a 14-year old boy on the basis of typical cell morphology, as well as by membrane antigen analysis with monoclonal antibodies, shifted to the phenotype of an acute eosinophilic leukemia 5 months after the initiation of chemotherapy. The transformation was evident by a change in morphology of cells derived from bone marrow aspirates, by cytochemistry and by a shift in the membrane antigen pattern.