The chronic myeloid leukaemias: guidelines for distinguishing chronic granulocytic, atypical chronic myeloid, and chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia: Proposals by the French ‐ American ‐ British Cooperative Leukaemia Group

TLDR

The study aims to provide detailed recommendations to improve investigators’ diagnostic accuracy of chronic myeloid leukaemia subtypes. The authors reviewed four CML entities and developed a statistical model using five quantitative and one qualitative parameter to distinguish CGL, aCML, and CMML, enabling more uniform comparisons of molecular and clinical studies. Summary.

Abstract

Summary. We have reviewed our experience with four of the entities that are included under the generic term chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), namely the classic Ph + CGL, both BCR + and BCR − , aCML and CMML. We have developed a statstical model that confirms that CGL, aCML and CMML can be distinguished from each other with reasonable success employing five quantitative parameters (WBC, percentage immature granulocytes, percentage monocytes, percentage basophils, percentage erythroid precursors in bone marrow) and one qualitative parameter (granulocytic dysplasia). It is hoped that these detailed recommendations will enable investigators to improve their diagnostic accuracy. This should permit more uniform comparisons of molecular biologic and clinical studies.