The specimen required for the diagnosis of leukemia is?

The diagnosis of leukemia primarily relies on the examination of bone marrow. In cases of leukemia, the bone marrow is often hypercellular, meaning it contains an increased number of cells, which can include abnormal cells characteristic of this type of cancer. Bone marrow samples allow for the assessment of the type of cells present and their maturation stages, which is vital for diagnosing the specific subtype of leukemia.

While peripheral blood may show abnormal cells or elevated white blood cell counts, it does not provide the same detailed insight into the overall hematopoietic activity and the presence of leukemic infiltrates seen in the bone marrow. On the other hand, while spleen aspirate and lymph node biopsies can contribute valuable information in specific contexts, they are not the primary specimens used for diagnosing leukemia. Bone marrow assessment remains the gold standard in identifying and classifying the disease effectively.