[Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood: a special risk group?]

The Philadelphia chromosome is rarely observed in acute myelogenous and acute lymphoblastic leukemias. There are only a few case reports about pediatric patients, the prognosis of whom seems to be extremely poor. Reviewing the case of a girl aged 18 months with Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the differences between this entity and blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia are described. This subgroup of Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia may represent a new risk group.