Knowra Leukemia Leukemia Leukemia is a group of cancers that begin in blood-forming tissues, especially bone marrow, and produce abnormal blood cells. Its forms differ by the cells involved and how quickly they progress.
Hematopoiesis : The process by which stem and progenitor cells produce the cellular components of blood. Leukemias arise when blood-forming cells acquire changes that disrupt their development.
Hematopoietic stem cell : A self-renewing bone marrow cell that can produce all blood cell lineages. Some leukemias originate in stem or progenitor cells capable of sustaining abnormal growth.
Complete blood count : A blood test measuring red cells, white cells, platelets, and related indices. Abnormal counts can prompt investigation for leukemia, though they do not establish the diagnosis.
Lymphoma : A group of cancers arising in lymphocytes, usually presenting as masses in lymph nodes or other tissues. Lymphoma typically forms tissue masses, while leukemia primarily involves blood and marrow.
Acute myeloid leukemia : A rapidly progressing cancer of myeloid blood-forming cells, commonly involving immature blasts. It is a major acute leukemia subtype defined by myeloid lineage.
Myeloid cell : A blood cell belonging to the lineage that produces granulocytes, monocytes, red cells, and platelets. Myeloid lineage involvement defines several major leukemia types.
Oncogene : A gene whose abnormal activation can promote cell growth, survival, or division. Leukemia-associated genetic changes can activate growth-promoting pathways.
Bone marrow biopsy : A procedure that samples marrow tissue, usually from the pelvic bone, for examination. Marrow samples reveal abnormal cell populations and help classify leukemia.
Multiple myeloma : A cancer of antibody-producing plasma cells that usually grows in bone marrow. It is a marrow cancer, but its malignant cells are plasma cells rather than leukemia-defined blood precursors.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia : A rapidly progressing cancer of immature lymphoid cells, most common in children but occurring at any age. It illustrates acute leukemia arising from lymphoid rather than myeloid cells.
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