Learn how is leukemia diagnosed with precision at Liv Hospital. From bone marrow biopsy to advanced flow cytometry and genetic profiling for targeted therapy.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Diagnosis and Evaluation
In the fight against blood cancer, accuracy is everything. A diagnosis of “leukemia” is not enough; to treat it effectively, we must know its exact genetic “fingerprint.” Is it acute or chronic? Is it myeloid or lymphocytic? Does it carry specific mutations like the Philadelphia chromosome?
At Liv Hospital, how is leukemia diagnosed is a process that combines rapid clinical assessment with advanced genomic technology. Our multidisciplinary tumor board ensures that every international patient receives a precise diagnosis often within days of arrival allowing us to initiate the correct life-saving therapy immediately.
For most patients, the journey begins with a simple blood test. Whether you visited a doctor due to fatigue or it was a routine check-up, the Complete Blood Count (CBC) provides the first major clue.
Healthy blood has a balance of red cells, white cells, and platelets. In leukemia, this balance is destroyed.
While blood tests suggest leukemia, they cannot confirm the specific subtype or the genetic mutations driving it. To answer how to test for leukemia definitively, we must go to the source: the bone marrow.
Many patients are anxious about this test. At Liv Hospital, we perform it under local anesthesia and sedation to maximize comfort. It involves two steps, usually done at the back of the hip bone (pelvis):
Our pathologists analyze these samples to determine:
This is where Liv Hospital distinguishes itself from standard care. We do not just look at the cells under a microscope; we analyze their DNA. This step is vital because it determines which “Targeted Therapies” will work for you.
This laser-based technology allows us to identify the specific proteins (antigens) on the surface of the leukemia cells.
We look for changes in the chromosomes of the leukemia cells.
We use Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to find microscopic gene mutations that cytogenetics might miss, such as:
Depending on the type of leukemia suspected, other tests may be necessary to see if the disease has spread beyond the blood and marrow.
This is primarily used for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Leukemia cells often “hide” in the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (CSF).
Time is the enemy of acute leukemia. In many national health systems, waiting for genetic results can take weeks.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Multiple tests, including blood tests, bone marrow examinations, and imaging scans, are used to diagnose and stage leukemia, with treatment plans tailored to the specific type and stage of the disease.
Preliminary results (from blood smears and flow cytometry) are usually available within 24 to 48 hours. Full genetic analysis (cytogenetics) takes about 5 to 7 days because the cells need time to grow in the lab.
Unlike solid tumors (like breast cancer) that can be found with mammograms, there are no routine screening tests for leukemia. It is usually found when symptoms appear or during blood tests for other reasons. This is why paying attention to symptoms like fatigue and bruising is crucial.
Leukemia cells, especially in ALL, can cross the “blood-brain barrier” where standard IV chemotherapy cannot reach them. We test the spinal fluid to see if the cells are hiding there so we can treat that area directly.
In some cases, yes. A chronic leukemia (like CML) can transform into an acute phase (Blast Crisis) if untreated. Additionally, slow-growing lymphomas can sometimes transform into aggressive leukemias (Richter’s transformation). Regular monitoring is essential.
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