# Differentiating Leukostasis From COVID-19 Pneumonia: Clinical and Radiological Perspectives for the Right Decision-Making

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how to distinguish leukostasis, a complication of leukemia, from COVID-19 pneumonia to guide accurate diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

The paper presents a case study to highlight clinical and radiological differences between leukostasis and COVID-19 pneumonia.

## Key findings

- Leukostasis and COVID-19 pneumonia can present with similar respiratory symptoms, requiring careful differentiation.
- Early recognition of these conditions is crucial to avoid unnecessary treatments and optimize patient care.
- The case study aids in guiding clinicians toward accurate decision-making in managing these conditions.

## Abstract

Leukostasis is a non-infectious complication of acute leukemia. Pathophysiologically, it is characterized by an accumulation of blasts in the pulmonary capillaries. Clinically, this syndrome of hyperleukocytosis or leucocytosis leads to pulmonary and/or neurological lesions. This is why it must be treated urgently to prevent it from progressing to acute respiratory distress. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2, which may cause respiratory distress or other clinical, biological, and radiological signs that some may confuse with those of leukostasis.

In this context, we present a compelling case study of a 64-year-old patient with no notable pathological antecedents and not vaccinated against COVID-19, who presented with acute respiratory distress. The purpose of our article is to succeed in differentiating between the two pneumopathies, thus making it possible to orient the doctor toward the right decision-making. As known, early recognition enables timely interventions, reducing disease progression and associated complications while also preventing unnecessary treatments, optimizing healthcare resources, and advancing medical knowledge for improved patient care in both acute leukemia and COVID-19 management.