# 5q deletion in childhood T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia at diagnosis: a case report

## TL;DR

A 6-year-old boy with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia had an unusual 5q chromosomal deletion, which is rare in this type of cancer.

## Contribution

This case report highlights the rare occurrence of 5q deletion in pediatric T-cell ALL and its potential clinical significance.

## Key findings

- A 6-year-old patient with T-cell ALL was found to have a deletion in the 5q chromosomal region.
- 5q deletion is uncommon in T-cell ALL and may have different prognostic implications compared to myeloid leukemias.
- Further research is needed to understand the role of 5q deletion in lymphoid malignancies.

## Abstract

We present the case of a 6-year-old Moroccan male patient of Berber ethnic origin, diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, who exhibited a deletion of the 5q region.

The patient initially presented with classic symptoms of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including bone pain, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. Laboratory tests revealed anemia, hyperleukocytosis, and a high percentage of lymphoid blasts in both the blood and bone marrow. Immunophenotyping results confirmed that these blasts were of T-cell origin. Cytogenetic analysis identified a deletion of the long arm of chromosome 5 in a subset of the patient’s cells.

The presence of a 5q deletion in pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is an unusual finding and its prognostic significance may differ from that observed in myeloid leukemias. The implications of this cytogenetic anomaly in lymphoid malignancies remain unclear and warrant further investigation. Understanding the origins and effects of such chromosomal abnormalities in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia could provide deeper insights into the disease’s pathogenesis and contribute to more tailored therapeutic strategies.