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.