by
Robert McLay and John Krause. Copyright Tulane University. Leukemic cells usually spill into the blood, where they may be seen in large numbers. Leukemic cells may also infiltrate lymph nodes, liver, spleen and other tissues.
Acute leukemias usually appear with symptoms resulting from suppression of normal marrow function. These symptoms include: anemia, with accompanying fatigue; fever, usually reflecting an infection; and/or bleeding, usually caused by thrombocytopenia. Chronic leukemias, on the other hand, can appear with non specific symptoms, including fatigue, weight loss, anemia, or an abnormal sensation in the abdomen caused by splenomegaly.
Acute leukemias are usually fatal within weeks if left untreated, while patients with untreated chronic leukemia usually survive much longer. Acute vs. chronic leukemia can be distinguished histologically by the fact that acute leukemias are characterized by the presence of immature, blast cells, while chronic leukemias are usually associated with more mature and well-differentiated cells. Some chronic leukemias may, however, transform into an acute phase, a so called "blast crisis".
Besides the acute or chronic designation, leukemias can be subdivided into those which are lymphoblastic (originating from a precursor of a B- or T- lymphocyte) and those which are myelogenous (originating from a precursor of granulocytes, monocytes, erythrocytes, or megakaryocytes). Thus, leukemias can be classified into four general types: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) , chronic lymphoid leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Specifics concerning these different leukemias, along with blood samples and biopsies can be viewed by clicking on the following links.
If you need more information, the best place on the internet to search is usually the National Library of Medicine.
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by
Robert McLay and John Krause. Copyright Tulane University.