Definition:
Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is known to be the most common type of leukemia, which is found in adults, although people pf all ages can be affected by this serious medical condition. In AML, underdeveloped leukemia cells accumulate in the patient's bone marrow, thereby causing the destruction and replacement of cells that would produce normal blood cells.
Diagnosis:
Primary indicators of AML is often evident in the abnormal results of blood counts. Bone marrow examination should also be conducted to further verify the type of abnormal cells. Diagnosis of this diseases in considered to be quite challenging and should by a qualified hematologist.
Treatment:
AML is categorized as a fatal disease but is alos known to be potential curable. However, only a small number of patients are pronounced to be completely cured by the existing therapy which include the administration of chemotherapy and stem cell transplants.
Symptoms and Signs:
The early symptoms of AML are quite similat to that of ALL or acute lymphocytic leukemia. However, meningitis is known to occur less often in AML compared to ALL. Other indicators include unexplained fatigue, easy bleeding and bruising, shortness of breat and increased susceptibility to infections.
Causes:
While there are a number of risk factors that have been indetified ass underlying cause of AML, the specific cause still remains unclear. As an acute form of leukemia, AML rapidly progresses can provde to be fatal, causing death within weeks or months if the medical condition is left untreated.
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