Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Einstein Health Glossary
ICD 10 - C92.0
What is acute myeloid leukemia?
Acute myeloid leukemia, also known as acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, is a type of cancer characterized by genetic mutations that affect bone marrow stem cells and lead to an overproduction of immature white blood cells. These cells begin to multiply uncontrollably and interfere with the development of healthy cells.
Symptoms
Most often, the initial symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia include anemia, fatigue, recurrent infections, weight loss and loss of appetite, fever, headache, shortness of breath, bruising, and bleeding. It develops rapidly.
Causes
The exact cause of the genetic mutations that lead to acute myeloid leukemia has not yet been determined.
Diagnosis
To diagnose acute myeloid leukemia, doctors rely on blood tests and, if necessary, bone marrow biopsies, among other procedures.
Prevention
Since acute myeloid leukemia does not have a specific cause, there is no definitive way to prevent it.
Treatment
Treatment for acute myeloid leukemia depends on the severity of the case and the individual's response. It may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplantation.
Duration
The duration of acute myeloid leukemia varies greatly depending on the type and individual case. In general, even after treatment ends, a cure is only declared five years after the condition has disappeared.
Is it contagious?
Acute myeloid leukemia is not a contagious disease.
Can it be contracted more than once?
It is possible to have more than one case of leukemia, although this is uncommon.