AML Subtype M5 Linked to Pulmonary Leukemic Infiltrates and Respiratory Failure and the Importance of Early Induction Chemotherapy

Currently there are no practice guidelines for evaluating lung infiltrates in patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). More specifically, it remains unclear if there is a need to obtain a lung tissue biopsy prior to the initiation of induction chemotherapy. This clinical question is particularly important in instances in which obtaining a lung tissue diagnosis can potentially delay anti-leukemic treatment. Here we describe a case of such lung infiltrates in which a newly diagnosed AML patient underwent a diagnostic lung biopsy before receiving chemotherapy, was shown to have leukemic infiltration of lung tissue, and subsequently had complete resolution of lung infiltrates following initiation of chemotherapy.