[Revelation of an acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the delivery room]

Acute leukemia is uncommon in neonates and has a much poorer prognosis than in older children. We report on a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia observed in a neonate who had bleeding and hepatosplenomegaly at birth, which justified intensive care during the first postnatal week. Despite early appropriate treatment, the patient died at 7 months of age. We present here physical and laboratory findings, which indicate a grim prognosis. These criteria should be considered carefully in order to ensure a realistic information for the parents and appropriate decisions.