B Lymphoblastic Leukemia With a Novel t(11;15) (q23;q15) and Unique Burkittoid Morphologic and Immunophenotypic Findings in a 9-Year-Old Boy.

B lymphoblastic leukemia is a B progenitor cell neoplasm with a range of immature immunophenotypes and several associated cytogenetic lesions. In contrast, Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma is a mature B lymphocyte neoplasm with a characteristic germinal center immunophenotype and MYC rearrangement. With modern immunophenotyping and cytogenetic methods, the distinction between these 2 entities is seldom ambiguous.

Optimizing personalized bone marrow testing using an evidence-based, interdisciplinary team approach.

Objectives: To address the overuse of testing that complicates patient care, diminishes quality, and increases costs by implementing the diagnostic management team, a multidisciplinary system for the development and deployment of diagnostic testing guidelines for hematologic malignancies.

Methods: The team created evidence-based standard ordering protocols (SOPs) for cytogenetic and molecular testing that were applied by pathologists to bone marrow biopsy specimens on adult patients. Testing on 780 biopsy specimens performed during the six months before SOP implementation was compared with 1,806 biopsy specimens performed during the subsequent 12 months.

Limited utility of fluorescence in situ hybridization for common abnormalities of myelodysplastic syndrome at first presentation and follow-up of myeloid neoplasms.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization for abnormalities common to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS FISH) is often used with traditional karyotype in the diagnosis and monitoring of myeloid neoplasms. However, its value in these roles has been questioned. To evaluate its utility, we compared MDS FISH results with karyotype in 544 bone marrow specimens obtained for diagnosis (180 cases) or follow-up (364 cases) of myeloid neoplasia.

Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma in the bone marrow of a patient with plasma cell myeloma and therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome.

Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive neoplasm of the skin that shows frequent lymph node metastases, but has only rarely been reported in the bone marrow. Herein we report a case of a 64-year-old male with a history of plasma cell myeloma and recent skin diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma who presented for a routine follow-up bone marrow to assess his myeloma. The biopsy showed persistent plasma cell myeloma, trilineage dysplasia, and clusters of neuroendocrine cells consistent with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.