Immunophenotyping of AML and MDS and detection of residual disease

Immunophenotyping, combined with morphology and cytochemistry, and eventually with genetic analyses, has become a critical tool and is often essential in characterizing and subclassifying acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) appropriately. In selected cases, immunophenotyping allows detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) and can be employed for the monitoring of acute leukaemia patients in remission. Regarding myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), little information is currently available concerning immunological patterns with the exception of acute leukaemias following MDS. In this paper, the role of immunophenotyping in diagnosis, subclassification and prognosis of AML and MDS, though not yet well established, will be reviewed.