Abstract

Background: Prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL) is a generalized malignancy of the lymphoid tissue, usually of B cell type. Auer rod-like inclusions in prolymphocytic leukemia cells are an extremely rare event; the inclusions are very similar to the Auer rods morphologically.
Methods: We describe a case of B-cell PLL presenting with Auer rod-like inclusions. The diagnosis was eventually proven by the morphology, cytochemical staining, immunophenotypes, and electron microscopy.
Results: Auer rod-like inclusions are pathological changes of mitochondria with increasing density of matrix and disappearing internal instructure seen through a scanning electronic microscope.
Conclusions: Auer rod-like inclusions can present in pathologically changed prolymphocytic leukemia cells.

DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2014.141140