F.A.B.CLASSIFICATION OF CHILDHOOD LEUKEMIA IN IRAN

Bone marrow specimens from leukemic patients were studied in a 5 year period beginning in 1982 in Children's Medical Center of Teheran,a teaching and referral center for pediatric medicine. The slides were stained by Giemsa-Wright stains, read by at least two persons experienced in bone marrow pathology and classified according to F.A.B. recommendations. Peroxidase or Sudan black-B and P.A.S. reaction were used fordifferentiation of myeloblasts from lymphoblasts when required. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most prevalent childhood leukemia in Iran, as it is in other countries, but the incidence is relatively lower compared to western countries. The percentage of all leukemic subtypes are almost similar to other reports except for L2, Ml and M2 where L2 has a relatively lower occurrence with Ml and M2 being more prevalent.