Abstract
A 30-year-old housewife visited the Gynecological Department of Toranomon Hospital on February 19, 1981, becuase of abnormal genital bleeding, palpitation and dizziness of two weeks' duration. She was referred to the Depart ment of Hematology because of pancytopenia.
On admission on February 20, blood examination revealed marked normochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia (WBC 3100) with 31% myeloblasts and 4.5% promyelocytes. Auer bodies were observed both in immature and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. A sternal marrow aspirate revealed hypercellular marrow (nucleated cells 255,000/cu. mm.) with 77.2% myeloblasts and 8.8% promyelocytes, both with Auer bodies, and marked reduction in erythroblasts and megakaryocytes. Electronmicroscopic study of same material revealed Auer bodies in polymorphonucler neutrophils, besides in myeloblasts and promyelocytes.
A diagnosis of acute myeloblastic leukemia was made; a complete remission was attained by remission induction therapy. On April 2 an improvement of the peripheral blood picture and marked reduction in leukemic cells and reappearance of normal hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow smear were confirmed.
