Basophilia and megakaryoblastic differentiation in a case of acute myeloid leukemia: An unusual morphological combination

Basophilia is commonly associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia, notably in the accelerated phase or during blast crisis. It is also associated with other myeloproliferative neoplasms. However, its association with acute leukemia is very rare and is described in association with acute basophilic leukemia and few acute myeloid leukemias (AMLs) with recurrent genetic abnormalities such as t(6;9)(p23;q34). Herein, we describe the morphological features and discuss the differential diagnosis of a case of AML with the blasts showing previously unreported unusual combination of megakaryoblastic and basophilic differentiation along with peripheral blood and bone marrow basophilia.