Chronic Myeloid Leukemia in a 14-Year-Old: A Rare Case with Unique Clinical Challenges

<p>Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a rare myeloproliferative disorder in children, accounting for only 2% of pediatric leukemias. This case report presents a 14-year-old male diagnosed with CML, highlighting the unique clinical and molecular characteristics of pediatric CML. The patient exhibited symptoms of low-grade fever, abdominal discomfort, splenomegaly and leukocytosis. Peripheral blood smear and bone marrow aspiration confirmed a myeloid predominance and cytogenetic analysis identified the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome with BCR-ABL1 fusion. Although CML predominantly affects older adults, pediatric cases often follow a more aggressive course with unique genomic features. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have improved outcomes, but pediatric patients may still exhibit suboptimal responses or disease progression. This report emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis, molecular confirmation and individualized treatment strategies, including the role of bone marrow transplantation in managing pediatric CML.</p>