Acute Leukemia

Types

Acute leukemia can be divided into two types, depending on the subtype of bone marrow cells affected. If immature cells that produce white blood cells, called lymphocytes, are affected, the leukemia is acute lymphocytic or lymphoblastic leukemia. This form of leukemia can occur at all ages but is most common in children. With modern treatment programs, a high percentage of children and adults can be cured.

The second type of acute leukemia is acute myeloid or myelogenous leukemia. This disease can affect other cells in the bone marrow that are not lymphocytic.

Acute leukemia is not one disease but actually a group of closely-related diseases that all affect bone marrow cells. These diseases can cause varying symptoms and manifestations. Treatments can be tailored for the characteristics of the leukemia. Different subtypes of acute leukemia have different prognoses.

If left untreated, acute leukemia can be fatal in a matter of weeks or months, depending on the patient's situation. However, advances in treatment during the past 40 years have shown that acute leukemia is treatable and often curable.