Can Leukemia Be Detected Through Peripheral Blood Tests?

Peripheral blood cannot directly diagnose leukemia in general. If you suspect you have leukemia, it is recommended to promptly visit a hematology department at a hospital for a bone marrow aspiration examination, cytochemical staining, and other diagnostic tests under medical guidance.

Situations Where Leukemia Can Be Detected

1. Bone Marrow Aspiration Examination: Due to abnormal hematopoiesis, leukemia patients experience decreased red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. A bone marrow aspiration examination can observe a proportion of over 20% of primitive cells or the presence of blast cells in the bone marrow, with a significant reduction in mature cells, typically leading to a diagnosis of leukemia.

2. Cytochemical Staining: During bone marrow smear preparation, cytochemical staining can be used to determine the presence of leukemia. For instance, positive results for acid phosphatase and non-specific esterase may indicate acute myelogenous leukemia.

Situations Where Leukemia Cannot Be Directly Detected

Peripheral blood primarily comprises circulating blood components in the human body, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Leukemia, on the other hand, is a malignant clonal disease of hematopoietic stem cells characterized by the proliferation of a large number of leukemia cells in the body, inhibiting normal hematopoiesis. However, peripheral blood cannot directly detect leukemia cells, making it generally unable to directly diagnose leukemia.

Upon confirmation of leukemia, treatment options under medical guidance may include imatinib mesylate capsules, vincristine sulfate injection, or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to improve symptoms.