del(2)(p23): a consistent recurrent abnormality in acute myelogenous leukemia.

A case of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML-M2) with an unusual chromosomal finding is presented. In addition to the most frequently observed translocation in this neoplasia, involving the long arms of chromosomes 8 and 21, there was a partial deletion of the short arm of chromosome 2 band (p23), i.e., 46,XX,del(2)(p23),t(8;21)(q22;q22). Deletion of the short arm of chromosome 2 has been described in association with other chromosome abnormalities in two other cases of AML and as the sole abnormality in three cases of AML, indicating that this abnormality is nonrandom and may be associated with leukemic transformation of hematopoietic cells. Therefore, we propose that the del(2)(p23),t(8;21)(q22;q22) abnormality be accorded status III and possibly considered a subset of AML (M2).