الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia is a heterogeneous clonal neoplasm characterized by accumulated genetic aberrations, which result in enhanced proliferation, block in differentiation and increased survival of the leukemic blast cells and is the most commonmalignant myeloid disorder in adults. It is characterized by an increase in the number of myeloid cells in the BM and an arrest in their maturation, frequently resulting in hematopoietic insufficiency with or without leukocytosis. It has an incidence of 2-3 per 100, 000 per year in children, rising to 15 per 100, 000 in older adults. It can occur at all ages but has its peak incidence in the seventh decade. Acute myeloid leukemia accounts for approximately 25% of all leukemias in adults in the western world, and, therefore, is the most frequent form of leukemia.
Conventional methods for diagnosis of AML include peripheral blood and bone marrow examination, cytochemistry together with immunophenotyping by flowcytometry and conventional cytogenetics. Nowadays, molecular techniques are playing a major role in the diagnosis and identification of new abnormalities that may contribute to the susceptibility to AML. These molecular techniques include Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization and polymerase chain reaction.
Specific cytogenetic aberrations detected by conventional karyotyping or FISH play a major role in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with acute leu¬kemia. The FISH technique enhances the capacity of conventional karyotyping to detect subtle chromosomal aberrations.