Blasts in pleural fluid: a clue to diagnose acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Acute myeloid leukemia is usually diagnosed in older patients, and its incidence increases with age. Most patients with acute myeloid leukemia present with symptoms related to anemia, bleeding, and infections. Blast infiltration into other tissues can occur. Leukemic pleural infiltration has been reported previously but is very rare. Here we discuss a 62-year-old woman diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia with a leukemic infiltrate in a pleural effusion.

Keywords: AML, pleural effusion, blast cell, leukemic pleural infiltrate