Ultrastructural features in 100 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia

Ultrastructural features thought to be significant in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) have been examined in 100 cases entered into the Medical Research Council 9th AML Trial. It is concluded that, of the features examined, only rarely is there a striking correlation with diagnosis which could be usefully employed with confidence. This is a consequence of there being both a large overlap of similar ultrastructural features between the different sub-types of the disease and also wide variations in ultrastructure within the conventionally diagnosed sub-types of AML. Thus the similarities between cells from different cases which allow them to be classified by light microscopy do not necessarily extend to the ultrastructural level. However, it is suggested that a classification on ultrastructural grounds might have a prognostic significance which would only be revealed by a long-term study.