Flow Cytometry in Acute Leukaemias - Basic Principles and Clinical Applications

Flow cytometry has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of leukaemia, serving as a cornerstone for rapid, multiparametric immunophenotyping of abnormal cells in bone marrow or blood. It excels at identifying lineage (myeloid vs. lymphoid), characterizing aberrant antigen expression, classifying subtypes (e.g., in acute myeloid or lymphoblastic leukaemia), and detecting measurable residual disease (MRD) post-treatment with high sensitivity.
Its key advantages include speed (results often within hours), ability to analyze thousands of cells simultaneously, and precise quantification of blast populations or clonality. This enables prompt treatment decisions and improved prognostication.
Limitations include dependence on expertise for interpretation, potential overlap with normal cells, lack of direct morphology correlation, and occasional immuno-phenotypic heterogeneity.