Acute myeloid leukaemia with chronic course

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology

Background:

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a serious hematologic malignancy.
• Treatment decisions for AML involve balancing remission induction with patient quality of life.

Observation:

• A 60-year-old male presented with oral and throat symptoms, fever, and prostration.
• Diagnosis of AML was confirmed via blood and bone marrow morphology and immunophenotyping.
• Striking features included normal platelet count, normal bone marrow megakaryocytes, low WBC count, and low myeloblast count.

Findings:

• The patient opted for palliative treatment instead of conventional chemotherapy.
• He survived for 38 months, outperforming typical outcomes for untreated AML.
• Clinical deterioration episodes were managed successfully with palliative measures.

Implications:

• Palliative care can offer significant survival benefits and improved quality of life in select AML cases.
• This case highlights the importance of individualized treatment planning in hematologic malignancies.
• Further research into the role of palliative care in AML management is warranted.