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Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) is a fast-growing cancer in which the body produces a large number of immature white blood cells (lymphocytes). These cells are found in the blood, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs.
Alternative NamesALL; Acute childhood leukemia; Cancer - acute childhood leukemia (ALL); Leukemia - acute childhood (ALL)
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsALL makes up 80% of childhood acute leukemias. Most cases occur in children ages 3 - 7. The disease may also occur in adults.
In acute leukemia, cancerous cells multiply quickly and replace normal cells. Cancerous cells take over normal parts of the bone marrow, often causing low blood counts .
Most cases of ALL have no obvious cause. However, the following may play a role in the development of leukemia:
- Certain chromosome problems
- Radiation exposure or being exposed to x-rays before birth
- Past treatment with chemotherapy drugs
- Receiving a bone marrow transplant
- Toxins such as benzene
Persons with Down syndrome or other genetic disorders, or who have a brother or sister with leukemia are at increased risk for ALL.
SymptomsA person with ALL is more likely to bleed and have infections because there are fewer normal blood cells and platelets. Life-threatening symptoms may develop.
- Bone and joint pain or tenderness
- Easy bruising and bleeding (bleeding gums, skin bleeding, nosebleeds, menstrual irregularities)
- Feeling weak or tired
- Fever
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Paleness
- Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs
- Pinpoint red spots on the skin (petechiae)
- Swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) in the neck, under arms, and groin
- Night sweats
Note: These symptoms can occur with other conditions. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific symptoms.
Signs and testsA physical exam may reveal the following:
- Bruising
- Enlarged liver, lymph nodes, and spleen
- Signs of bleeding (petechiae, purpura)
Blood tests may show the following:
- Abnormal white blood cell (WBC) count
- Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
A bone marrow aspiration will show abnormal levels of certain cells. The bone marrow is usually taken from the back of one of the hip bones, but can be taken from other bones. Tests are done on the bone marrow cells to identify the type of leukemia.
A lumbar puncture or spinal tap is usually done to both detect if leukemia cells are in the spinal fluid and to give chemotherapy to prevent spread to the spinal fluid.
Doctors look for chromosome changes in the cells of some leukemias. This helps aid in diagnosis and prognosis. Leukemias with certain types of chromosome changes have a poor outlook, while those with other types of genes can have a very good outlook. This may determine what kind of therapy is used to treat the ALL.
TreatmentThe goal of treatment is to get the blood counts and the bone marrow back to normal. If this occurs and the bone marrow looks healthy under the microscope, the cancer is said to be in remission.
If you have ALL, you will need chemotherapy. For the first round of chemotherapy (called induction), you may need to stay in the hospital for 3 - 6 weeks.
Later you may get chemotherapy on an outpatient basis (living at home and going to a clinic to receive your treatments). If you have a low white blood cell count, you may need to be placed in a room by yourself so you do not catch an infection.
Many chemotherapy drugs given into the veins do not reach the brain and spinal cord tissue. Therefore, many patients will also receive radiation therapy to the brain or chemotherapy drugs injected into the space around the brain and spinal column to prevent later spread to these sites.
If you go into remission, you may receive additional chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill any cancer cells that are in the spinal fluid. You may also receive chemotherapy from time to time to prevent relapse. A bone marrow or stem cell transplant may also be recommended, especially if one of your siblings is proven to be a full match.
If your leukemia returns or does not respond to other treatments, a bone marrow or stem cell transplant is usually recommended.
Additional treatments depend on other symptoms. They may include:
- Transfusion of blood products, such as platelets or red blood cells, to fight thrombocytopenia and anemia
- Antibiotics to fight infection, especially if a fever occurs
Patients can ease the stress of their illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.
See also: Cancer - support group
Expectations (prognosis)Children usually have a better outcome than adults. Almost all children go into complete remission. Without treatment, a person with ALL can expect to live for only about 3 months.
The following patients tend to do better:
- Younger adults (especially those younger than age 50)
- Children between the ages of 1 and 9
- Those who have a WBC count below 50,000 when first diagnosed
- Those who do not have a Philadelphia chromosome-positive ALL (a specific genetic change)
- Those who achieve complete remission (disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer) within 4 - 5 weeks of starting treatment
Patients whose leukemia spreads to the brain or spinal cord tend to have a worse outcome.
Complications- Bleeding
- Damage to different organs from chemotherapy
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
- Relapse of ALL
- Severe infection
- Spread of the cancer to other parts of the body
Call your health care provider if:
- You develop ALL-like symptoms
- You have ALL and you have a persistent fever or other signs of infection
Because the cause is usually unknown, it is not possible to prevent most cases. You may reduce your risk of ALL by avoiding exposure to toxins, radiation, and chemicals.
ReferencesAppelbaum FR. The acute leukemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 194.
Pui CH, Robison LL, Look AT. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Lancet. 2008 Mar 22;371(9617):1030-43.
What else can I help you with?
What is the death rate of children dying from leukemia?
* Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): 66.1 percent overall; 91.2 percent for children under 5 * Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): 76.2 percent * Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML): 21.3 percent overall; 55.2 percent for children under 15 * Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): 46.7 percent This is the survival rate.....NOT THE DEATH RATE.
Is Dasatinib a form of chemotherapy?
Yes, dasatinib (brand name Sprycel) is a form of chemotherapy. It is used for CML (chronic myelogenous leukemia) or certain types of ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia.) It is given in tablet form once daily.
What is CBC of a person with leukemia?
It really depends on the type of leukemia. But there are several generalizations one can make across the board for all types. Leukemia reflects an unregulated accumulation of immature cells in the bone marrow and lymph tissue. WBC's typically >50,000 per cubic millimeter Shift to the Left # Acute myelocytic leukemia - increased blasts, increased pros and increased segs # Acute lymphocytic leukemia - Increased L-blasts, increased L-pros and no increased segs # Chronic myelocytic leukemia - presence of metas or myelos and increased segs # Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - presence of metas or myelos and no increased segs There are the basics.
How many different kinds of leukemia are there?
Chronic and Acute. Chronic worsens slowly, acute worsens quickly. Chronic leukemias are Chronic Lymphoblasitc Leukemia andChronic Myeloid Leukemia. Acute leukemias are Acute Lymphoblastice Leukemia and Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
Does Mark Harmon have some type of cancer and if so what type?
Harmon was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) on Oct. 4, 1983, just one month shy of his third birthday.
What is luekemea?
Leukemia (also spelled Leucamia, or leukaemia) is an umbrella term for cancer of the blood-forming tissues or bone marrow, characterized by the production too many blood cells. While most people associate leukemia with an excessive number of white blood cells, certain forms of the cancer produce too many immature red blood cells. There are four main types: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) Both forms of myelogenous leukemia are more common in adults; acute lymphocytic leukemia is the most typical form seen in children. ALL, the most common cause of death from disease in children, is characterized by rapidly forming immature red blood cells that have a short life cycle. This causes them to crowd the bone marrow, making it impossible to produce healthy red blood cells. Chronic leukemia, on the other hand, is caused by the slow build up of mature, abnormal blood cells that have a longer-than-normal life span. As a result, the body tends to produce too many new white blood cells. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, the five-year survival rate for all types of leukemia is approximately 54%; survival rates for lymphocytic leukemia is considerably higher than average, particularly in children.
What scientific name of blood cancer?
Leukemia is the common name for several types of cancer of the blood. There is more specific terminology that describes the specific type of leukemia a person has. There are more than a dozen variations, but the four most common are: # Acute Myelogenous (granulocytic) Leukemia (AML) # Chronic Myelogenous (granulocytic) Leukemia (CML) # Acute Lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) Leukemia (ALL) # Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Is philadelphia chromosome passed down to children and grandchildren?
Yes, it can. This new chromosome, which is mostly chromosome 22 with a piece of chromosome 9 stuck to it. It is called the Philadelphia chromosome and can cause chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) as well as some cases of acute lymphocytic and myelogenous leukemia (ALL and AML).
Can you have acute lymphoblastic leukemia and then get acute promyelocytic leukemia?
Yes, you can be diagnosed with ALL followed by AML. ALL is the cancer of lymphocytes whereas AML is the cancer of the myelocytes. It can be diagnosed together (Biphenotypic leukemia) or separately.
What is the compound name for ALL?
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Leukemia is a cancer of the?
Leukemia is a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It is characterized by the abnormal production of white blood cells, which are essential for the immune system. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal white blood cells that do not function properly. These leukemia cells can crowd out normal blood cells, leading to problems with blood clotting, anemia, and a weakened immune system. There are different types of leukemia, and they are classified based on the type of white blood cell affected (lymphoid or myeloid) and whether the disease is acute or chronic. Acute leukemia progresses rapidly and requires immediate treatment, while chronic leukemia progresses more slowly and may not cause symptoms for many years. Common types of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The specific type of leukemia and its classification influence the treatment approach and prognosis for individuals affected by the disease.
What is leukemia?
Childhood leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells in children and teens. There is formation of abnormal white blood cells n the bone marrow which crowd out the healthy cells. Lack of healthy white blood cells cause infection and other problems.
