A complete blood count (CBC) can reveal abnormalities that suggest leukemia, a type of cancer affecting blood-forming cells in the bone marrow.
CBC Abnormalities in Leukemia
Here are some common CBC findings that may indicate leukemia:
- Elevated White Blood Cell Count (WBC): Leukemia often causes an increase in the number of white blood cells, especially immature cells called blasts.
- Abnormal White Blood Cell Differential: The CBC includes a differential count, which analyzes the different types of white blood cells. In leukemia, there may be a high percentage of blasts, and other white blood cell types may be decreased.
- Low Red Blood Cell Count (RBC): Leukemia can crowd out healthy red blood cell production, leading to anemia.
- Low Platelet Count: Leukemia can also affect platelet production, leading to thrombocytopenia.
- Immature Cells in the Blood: The presence of blasts, which are immature white blood cells, is a hallmark of leukemia.
Interpreting CBC Results
It's important to remember that these CBC abnormalities are not always specific to leukemia. Other conditions can cause similar changes. A CBC alone is not enough to diagnose leukemia. Further testing, such as a bone marrow biopsy, is typically needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Examples of CBC Results in Leukemia
Here are some examples of how CBC results might look in different types of leukemia:
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): A high blast count, low RBC count, low platelet count, and a high percentage of myeloblasts (a type of immature white blood cell) in the differential count.
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): A high total WBC count with a high percentage of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and a low platelet count.
Note: The specific CBC results can vary depending on the type of leukemia, the stage of the disease, and individual factors.
