Auer rods are particularly associated with which type of acute myeloid leukemia?

Auer rods are distinctive cytoplasmic inclusions found in certain types of leukemic cells and are specifically associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this context, Auer rods are most characteristically seen in acute promyelocytic leukemia, which is classified as M3 according to the French-American-British (FAB) classification of acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is notable for its unique clinical features, including a high incidence of coagulopathy and the presence of the promyelocyte type of cell that contains Auer rods. These rods represent abnormal myeloid granules and are a hallmark for diagnosis. The fusion gene PML-RARA is typically associated with APL, and its identification leads to a specific treatment approach using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in combination with chemotherapy.

In contrast, the other subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia, such as M1 (acute myeloblastic leukemia without maturation), M2 (acute myeloblastic leukemia with maturation), and M4 (acute myelomonocytic leukemia), may not typically exhibit Auer rods or do so less prominently. Hence, Auer rods are most definitively associated with