What is the difference between acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia?
September 2006 Leukemia is a catch-all term for cancers that develop due to a malignant transformation of blood-forming (hematopoietic) cells. Leukemic cells grow and divide primarily in the bone marrow (myelogenous) and lymphoid tissues, and this abnormal growth interferes with the normal formation of blood cells and the functioning of the immune system. Proliferating leukemic cells then migrate to the blood and infiltrate other tissues and organs, such as the spleen. The leukemias are classified according to the type of cells (myelogenous or lymphoid) involved and by the natural history of the disease. Accordingly, there are four main types: acute and chronic myelogenous (or myeloid) leukemia, abbreviated as AML and CML; and acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, abbreviated as ALL and CLL. Both AML and CML can occur at any age, with an increasing incidence as people get older. However, there are several important differences between the two. In AML, a number of cytogenetic defects
