Hyperbasophilic Variant of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Abstract

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is an extremely rare variant of acute myeloid leukemia. APL constitutes around 10-15 % of acute myeloid leukemia in adults. It is commonly diagnosed around 40 years age. Molecular/genetic studies exhibit chromosomal translocation between chromosome 15 and chromosome 17-t(15;17)(q22;q21) and PML-RARa rearrangement. Four variants of APL have been identified: The classic form M<sub>3</sub> hypergranular variant, the microgranular variant, the hyperbasophilic form and zinc-finger form-M<sub>3</sub>r, identified by a different chromosomal translocation, between chromosome 11 and chromosome 17:t(11,17) (q23, q11-12).