Static cytometry identifies hyperdiploid childhood ALL

Hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia of childhood has long been identified with a good prognosis. Identification of this subgroup before treatment commences would enable the most appropriate regimen to be selected. Static cytometry permits an assessment of the DNA content of morphologically selected interphase cells. The blast cells from seven retrospective and seven prospective cases were studied and the ploidy levels compared with the bone marrow karyotype. Static cytometry rapidly identified the hyperdiploid karyotype and, as it was performed specifically on blast cells, it also identified the percentage of these blast cells that were hyperdiploid.