Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

What is acute myelogenous leukemia?

Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood usually in which too many granulocytes, a type of white blood cell, are produced in the bone marrow.

Normally, bone marrow cells mature into several different types of blood cells. Acute myelogenous leukemia usually affects the young blood cells (called blasts) that normally develop into a type of white blood cell (called granulocytes). The main function of granulocytes is to destroy bacteria. The blasts, which do not mature and become too numerous, remain in the bone marrow and blood. Acute leukemia is a fast growing cancer that needs to be treated as soon as possible after it is diagnosed. Chromosome abnormalities (extra chromosomes and structural changes in the chromosome material) are present in the majority of AML patients.

According to the American Cancer Society, about 45,000 leukemia cases are expected in 2011. About 13,000 of these will be AML.

What are the symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia?

The following are the most common symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Anemia (too few red blood cells)
Bleeding
Bruising
Fever and recurring infections
Persistent weakness
Fatigue
Aches in bones and joints
Swollen gums, lymph nodes, liver, or spleen
Weight loss
Night sweats

The symptoms of acute myelogenous leukemia may resemble other blood disorders or medical problems. Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis.

How is acute myelogenous leukemia diagnosed?

In addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnostic procedures for acute myelogenous leukemia may include the following:

Blood tests and other evaluation procedures
Bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy--a procedure that involves taking a small amount of bone marrow fluid (aspiration) and/or solid bone marrow tissue (called a core biopsy), usually from the hip bones, to be examined for the number, size, and maturity of blood cells and/or abnormal cells.
Spinal tap/lumbar puncture--a special needle is placed into the lower back, into the spinal canal. This is the area around the spinal cord. A small amount of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can be removed and sent for testing to determine if there are leukemia cells in the CSF or other problems. CSF is the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord.