4;11 translocation-associated acute leukemia: a comprehensive analysis

A girl with common acute lymphoblastic leukemia associated with t(4;11)(q21;q23) is presented. The physical examination revealed hepatosplenomegaly, and the hematologic analysis showed a high count of white cells. Chemotherapy induced a complete remission (CR), and the patient is still in CR (8 months). At the present time, 43 cases (including ours) of acute leukemia with t(4;11) have been published. This disease more often affects children and women than adult men and is characterized by a high blood white cell count and a short survival. The t(4;11)-associated acute leukemia is a heterogeneous group, including acute undifferentiated leukemia, acute undifferentiated lymphoblastic leukemia, and "common" acute lymphoblastic leukemia.