Aberrant expression of cd markers in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A diagnostic clue of malignancy or compounding confusions

Flow cytometric immunophenotyping currently comprises of standard of care test for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Aberrant expression of CD markers is seen in several cases of acute leukemia due to their abnormal genetic programme. In present study we evaluated the frequency of aberrant expression of CD markers in 36 new cases of ALL patients using CD45/SSC gating. Out of these, 77.8% had conventional immunophenotypes while 22.2% cases showed expression of CD antigens which were not of that specific lineage. The presence of aberrancy helps to identify a neoplastic process. To conclude aberrant immunophenotypes are quiet common in ALL and have important implications for the diagnosis, monitoring and also establish baselines for subsequent detection of MRD.