mast cell leukaemia

mast cell leukaemia

An aggressive subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia, which develops in 15% of patients with malignant systemic mastocytosis. 
Clinical findings
Fever, anorexia, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal colic, diarrhoea, pruritus, bone pain, duodenal ulcer, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy.
 
Diagnostic criteria
20% neoplastic mast cells in marrow and 10% in peripheral blood cells. If the mast cells comprise < 10% of blood cells, it is called "aleukaemic" mast cell leukaemia.
Prognosis
Poor; therapy buys little time; survival is usually ≤ 6 months.