Chromosome abnormalities in leukemia: a review.

Y. M. Chin, BSc (Hon) Haemotology Department Khalid Hassan, MBBS. MRCP, MRCPath, DCP, DTMH Head, Haemotology Department, Institute for Medical Research Kuala Lumpur have to be subjected to in vitro culture and stimulated with mitogens such as phytohaemagglutinin in order to obtain dividing cells for chromosome analysis. This is the standard method employed in karyotyping an individual. In leukemias where the peripheral blood have a significant quantity of blast cells such as in blastic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia, mitogens need not be used because this may lead to a preponderance of normal diploid lymphocytes.