Dr Alejandro E. Arevalo, MD, FPSP

Consultant in Haematopathology and Flow Cytometry, Institute of Pathology,

St Luke’s Medical Center (Quezon City)

Dr Arevalo obtained his Doctorate in Medicine from University of Santo Tomas, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. Upon completing his residency training in the Division of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, he undertook a fellowship in haematopathology at the University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha City, Nebraska, USA. He also received training in FISH Cytogenetics for Haematologic Malignancies and Lymphoproliferative Disorders from the Munroe-Meyer Institute under the tutelage of Dr. Warren G. Sanger, MD. He currently serves as a Consultant in haematopathology and flow cytometry at St Luke’s Medical Centre, Global City and Quezon City, and Consultant Director of the Section of Haematology and Flow Cytometry at The Medical City.

Lecture Abstract

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is an important subset of precursor lymphoid neoplasms, mainly affecting children younger than 6 years of age. Although its aetiology is largely unknown, it may occur in association with Down Syndrome and other constitutional genetic disorders.

The latest WHO Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues (5th ed.) places a special importance to the presence of specific genetic mutations and fusions in the subclassification of ALL, which may have both therapeutic and prognostic impacts.

Flow cytometry and cytogenetic techniques, including fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH), are commonly employed in many institutions for the evaluation and management of ALL. In this webinar, the value of these two methods in the evaluation of ALL will be discussed using relevant case studies.