Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a β-thalassemia intermedia child: A case report

BACKGROUND: β-thalassemia intermedia (βTI) is one of the hemoglobinopathies. It constitutes 10% of β-thalassemia cases yet being associated with a better quality of life than β-thalassemia major (βTM). CASE SUMMARY: We recently reported the first case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from Egypt in a child with βTM, and we herein report the first case of ALL from Egypt in a child with βTI. In this report, literature was reviewed for cases of malignancies associated with βTI and the possible factors underling the relationship between the two entities. CONCLUSION: We stress that physicians should have a high index of suspicion of malignancies in thalassemia patients if they present with any suggestive symptoms or signs.