Ultrastructural and cytochemical characteristics of monocytes in various types of acute leukemias

Abstract

We have examined ultrastructural and cytochemical characteristics of monocytes in lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients and compared them to monocytes in acute monoblastic leukemia (AMoL) patients and acute myeloid nonmonoblastic leukemias (AML), respectively. Blood samples were prepared in the standard way for ultrastructural and cytochemical (α-naphthyl butyrate esterase and myeloperoxidase) analyses. Our results indicate that monocytes in ALL and acute phase AML have the same characteristics as the malignant ones in AMoL.