Severe Infection Mimicking AML due to Bone Marrow Suppression: a Diagnostic Challenge

Infection may lead to agranulocytosis due to bone marrow suppression. However, a rare case with infection presented with morphological features of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

We report a case of extreme agranulocytosis due to severe infection mimicking acute myeloid leukemia. The case was definitively diagnosed by subsequent morphology, flow cytometry, and bone marrow biopsy, and subsequent successful anti-infective treatment confirmed the diagnosis.

To date, no case of a patient diagnosed with severe infection mimicking AML has been reported. The case emphasizes the importance of an integrated diagnostic work-up, especially careful clinical observation and differential diagnosis.