Peripheral blood film images

This week’s case involved a patient with a GI bleed who presented with:

• WBC: 61.84 ×10⁹/L
• Hb: 95 g/L
• Platelets: 14 ×10⁹/L

Due to the combination of marked leukocytosis, anaemia, and severe thrombocytopaenia, a blood film was urgently reviewed.

Blood Film Findings:

• Almost all of the nucleated cells (99%) were blast cells
• The blasts were immature, with prominent nucleoli and scan cytoplasm
• Occasional Auer rods were noted within the blast cells
• There is a marked thrombocytopaenia

The findings are strongly suggestive of acute leukaemia of myeloid origin, though further flow cytometry and molecular testing are essential for classification.

Given the lack of clear maturation, a diagnosis such as AML with minimal differentiation remains possible, but must be confirmed with immunophenotyping.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this case. It’s a powerful example of how urgent and dynamic blood film review can be in acute leukaemia work-ups.