Types of Childhood Leukemia
Leukemia is the most common form of cancer in childhood. It affects approximately 3,800 children each year in the US and accounts for about 30 percent of childhood cancers. Leukemias are generally classified into acute (rapidly developing) and chronic (slowly developing) forms. In children, approximately 98% of
leukemias are acute.
Acute childhood leukemias are also categorized as acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), depending on whether specific white blood cells called lymphocytes (or myelocytes), which are linked to immune defenses, are involved. Although slow growing chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) may also be seen in children, it is quite rare in this population, accounting for fewer than 50 cases of childhood leukemia per year in the US.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the type of leukemia that most commonly affects children. Most of these children being between the ages of 2 and 8 years, with a peak incidence at 4 years of age. In the US, approximately 60% of children with leukemia have ALL, and about 38% have AML. AML generally occurs by the age of 2 years, and is not often seen in older children until the teenage years. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.
leukemias are acute.
Acute childhood leukemias are also categorized as acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), depending on whether specific white blood cells called lymphocytes (or myelocytes), which are linked to immune defenses, are involved. Although slow growing chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) may also be seen in children, it is quite rare in this population, accounting for fewer than 50 cases of childhood leukemia per year in the US.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is the type of leukemia that most commonly affects children. Most of these children being between the ages of 2 and 8 years, with a peak incidence at 4 years of age. In the US, approximately 60% of children with leukemia have ALL, and about 38% have AML. AML generally occurs by the age of 2 years, and is not often seen in older children until the teenage years. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults.