What does the "hiatus leukemica" phenomenon in leukemia mean?

In general, the "leukemic hiatus" phenomenon refers to the presence of increased numbers of primitive cells along with a reduction or absence of intermediate-stage cells observed in bone marrow or peripheral blood smears in acute leukemia, resulting in a gap in the cellular maturation process. The detailed explanation is as follows:

The leukemic hiatus phenomenon refers to the finding in the bone marrow of leukemia patients where large numbers of primitive and early immature leukemia cells are present, while mid-stage, late-stage, and mature cells are significantly reduced or absent, creating a "gap" in cell development. This occurs because abnormal proliferation of leukemia cells suppresses the normal differentiation and maturation of hematopoietic cells. Primitive cells accumulate extensively, and normal hematopoietic cell differentiation becomes blocked at an early stage, preventing their progression into mature cells. As a result, the bone marrow shows numerous primitive cells and only a few mature cells, with missing intermediate stages, presenting a hiatus-like appearance.

It is important to note that if symptoms such as unexplained fever, fatigue, or bleeding occur, medical evaluation including bone marrow examination should be sought promptly. After diagnosis, treatment must strictly follow medical advice, with regular bone marrow assessments to monitor disease progression. During treatment, infection prevention is crucial, along with maintaining balanced nutrition to enhance physical tolerance. If follow-up bone marrow examinations show worsening of the hiatus phenomenon, timely communication with the physician to adjust the treatment plan is necessary.