Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with a unique translocation in an adolescent boy

We report a case of an adolescent boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia whose blasts had three chromosomal abnormalities: trisomy 8, a t(5;15), and an extra "marker" chromosome. The patient presented with huge hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. The response to treatment (ALL BFM 90 protocol) was very rapid, and the patient is in complete remission 1 year after diagnosis.