Acute myelogenous leukemia
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is also known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia and is a cancer of the white blood cells. It is specifically a malignancy of the myeloid line of white blood cells. It is the most commonly diagnosed type of adult leukemia, and is rare among children. These malignant cells called myeloblasts fail to mature into the different types of blood cells, a process called differentiation. If differentiation does not occur, the myeloblasts accumulate and overtake the number of healthy blood cells, spreading into the bloodstream and other vital organs. The lack of healthy blood cells results in symptoms such as anaemia and abnormal bruising.Risks include heredity, radiation, chemical exposure (especially to benzene), and previous treatment with certain drugs (alkylating agents).
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2 Diagnosis 3 Treatment |
Terminology
Myeloid leukemias are characterized as "acute" or "chronic" based on how quickly they progress if not treated. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is often without symptoms and can remain dormant for years before transforming into a blast crisis, which is markedly similar to AML.
Acute myelogenous leukemia is further characterized morphologically (by the appearance of the malignant cells under light microscopy) or cytogenetically by characterization of the underlying chromosomal abnormality. The French-American-British (FAB) classification system groups these into seven different diseases (M0, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, & M7), each characterised by a particular pattern of chromosomal translocations and with a varying prognosis and response to therapy.
Diagnosis
AML is usually diagnosed in adults after a few days of nonspecific symptoms which are due to abnormal blood cell number, such as fatigue, weakness, bruises, petechiae (small rash-like spots), bleeding gums and nosebleeds, or infection.
Diagnosis is generally suspected on the blood film, but for classification and analysis, bone marrow biopsy is essential.
Treatment
Chemotherapeutic treatment is divided into two phases: induction and postremission therapy. In all FAB subtypes except M3, the usual treatment includes cytarabine (Ara-C) and an anthracycline (such as daunorubicin or idarubicin).
Complete remission is obtained in about 70 percent of newly diagnosed adults. The bone marrow is examined for malignant cells after each course of treatment: remission can be achieved after one to three courses.
Postremission therapy can include more intensive chemotherapy, or bone marrow transplant.
| Health science - Medicine - Hematology |
| Hematological malignancy and White blood cells |
| Lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease, NHL) - Leukemia (ALL, AML, CLL, CML) - Multiple myeloma - MDS - Myelofibrosis - Myeloproliferative disease (Thrombocytosis, Polycythemia) - Neutropenia |
| Red blood cells |
| Anemia - Hemochromatosis - Sickle-cell anemia - Thalassemia - other hemoglobinopathies |
| Coagulation and Platelets |
| Thrombosis - Deep venous thrombosis - Pulmonary embolism - Hemophilia - ITP - TTP |