Leukemia is cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue, such as the bone marrow, and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the bloodstream. Each year, leukemia is diagnosed in about 29,000 adults and 2,000 children in the United States. Leukemia is either chronic (gets worse slowly) or acute (gets worse quickly).
In acute leukemia:
- The blood cells are very abnormal
- The blood cells cannot carry out their normal work
- The number of abnormal cells increases rapidly
- The disease progresses quickly.
Acute Leukemia: Understanding Normal Blood Cells
Blood cells form in the bone marrow.
Bone marrow is the soft material in the center of most bones. Immature blood cells are called stem cells and blasts. Most blood cells mature in the bone marrow and then move into the blood vessels. Blood flowing through the blood vessels and heart is called the peripheral blood.
In people with acute leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal cells are
leukemia cells. At first, leukemia cells function almost normally. However, in time, they may crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, which makes it hard for blood to do its work.
The types of acute
leukemia are categorized by which blood cells are affected (lymphoid versus myeloid). Based on the blood cells that are affected, there are two common types of acute leukemia: acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (
AML).
Acute lymphocytic leukemia accounts for about 3,800 new cases of leukemia each year. Although this type of acute leukemia is the most common type of leukemia in young children, it also affects adults.
Other names for acute lymphocytic leukemia include:
- ALL
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- Acute lymphatic leukemia
- Acute lymphocytic leukemia
- Acute lymphoid leukemia
- Acute granulocytic leukemia.
Acute myeloid leukemia accounts for about 10,600 new cases of leukemia each year. It occurs in both adults and children.
Other names for acute myeloid leukemia include:
- AML
- Acute myelogenous leukemia
- Acute myelocytic leukemia.
(For more information about AML, see Childhood AML and Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia.)
No one knows the exact causes of acute leukemia. Doctors can seldom explain why one person will get acute leukemia and another person will not. However,
leukemia research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop leukemia. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing a disease.
Symptoms of Acute Leukemia
Like all blood cells,
leukemia cells travel through the body. Depending on the number of abnormal cells and where these cells collect, patients with acute
leukemia may have a number of acute
leukemia symptoms.
Common symptoms of acute leukemia include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin
- Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs
- Paleness or pallor
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Loss of appetite
- Tiny red spots (called petechiae) under the skin
- Bone or joint pain.
Diagnosing Acute Leukemia
If a person has possible symptoms of acute leukemia, the doctor may perform a physical exam, ask about the patient's personal and family medical history, and order laboratory tests, especially blood tests.
- Physical exam
- Blood tests
- Biopsy.
Treatment for Acute Leukemia
You can learn more about the specific treatments for each type of acute leukemia by going to the following eMedTV articles:
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