BCR/ABL positive thrombocythemia: a diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

Both chronic myeloid leukemia and essential thrombocythemia are part of the spectrum of myeloproliferative neoplasm. Therefore, considerable overlap may occur in the clinical manifestations, and hematological and molecular findings in some patients. We report here a case of a 45-year-old men who presented with thrombocytosis. Bone marrow aspiration yielded small megakaryocytes with hypolobulated nuclei and positive BCR-ABL rearrangement. A diagnosis of BCR-ABL+ essential thrombocythemia was made and imatinib was advised.

Keywords

• BCR-ABL rearrangement
• chronic myeloid leukemia
• essential thrombocythemia
• myeloproliferative neoplasm