What diagnostic procedure confirms a diagnosis of leukemia?

The confirmation of a leukemia diagnosis is effectively achieved through a bone marrow aspiration. This procedure involves extracting a small amount of bone marrow, often from the posterior iliac crest, to examine the cellular components directly. The presence of abnormal cells, such as immature white blood cells, as well as increased numbers of lymphoblasts or myeloblasts, is indicative of leukemia.

While blood tests can provide supportive findings, such as abnormal white blood cell counts and the presence of blast cells, they are not definitive on their own for diagnosing leukemia. A CT scan can be useful in assessing the extent of disease and identifying any lymphadenopathy or organ involvement, but it does not confirm the diagnosis. Similarly, an X-ray may help in identifying associated findings but lacks the specificity needed to diagnose leukemia. Thus, while all of these modalities contribute valuable information, bone marrow aspiration remains the gold standard for confirming the diagnosis of leukemia.