Leukaemia

Disease class: Distinct histological types of neoplasm

This is large group of diseases in which there is a malignancy of white blood cells (leukocytes), which populate the blood in high numbers.

Most leukaemias can be placed into four major groups. These are defined clinically and pathological according to two attributes:

• Course: Acute or chronic
• Lineage: Lymphocytic/lymphoblastic or myeloid/myelogenous

Several leukaemias fall outside this classification.
Lymphoblastic leukaemias start in precursor lymphoid cells. Lymphoma also originates from these cells, but it primarily affects the lymph nodes and lymphatic system.

 

Types

• leukaemia, Hairy cell
• leukaemia, Lymphoid
• leukaemia, Mast-cell
• leukaemia, Myeloid
• leukaemia, Plasma cell
• leukaemia, Radiation-induced

In the UK, there are around 9900 leukaemia diagnoses each year. 

• Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (830 diagnoses in 2015)
• Acute myeloid leukaemia (3,100 diagnoses in 2015)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (3,700 diagnoses in 2015)
• Chronic myeloid leukaemia (740 diagnoses in 2015)
• Hairy cell leukaemia (around 220 diagnoses per year)
• Other

In children, ALL is the most common leukaemia (median age 15 at diagnosis).

 

Investigations

• Full blood count 
• Blood film