A 5 year old child presents with history of fever off- and-on for past 2 weeks and petechial spots all over the body and increasing pallor for the past 1 month. Examination reveals splenomegaly of 2 cms below costal margin. The most likely diagnosis is:: (A) Acute leukemia, (B) Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, (C) Hypersplenism, (D) Aplastic anemia
Answer is A. This child is having fever, pallor, petechiae, splenomegaly; so most likely diagnosis is acute (lymphoblastic) leukemia. Ref: O P Ghai Essential Pediatrics, 6th Edition, Pages 303, 323, 561, 563 ; Vascular and Interventional Radiology: Principles and Practice, Cuis W. Bakal - 2002