For Parents

Health Encyclopedia
Growing Families
Getting Healthy
Staying Healthy
Health Encyclopedia

Leukemia

Bone marrow aspiration
Bone marrow aspiration 		Acute lymphocytic leukemia - photomicrograph
Acute lymphocytic leukemia - photomicrograph 		Auer rods
Auer rods 		Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - microscopic view
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - microscopic view 		Chronic myelocytic leukemia - microscopic view
Chronic myelocytic leukemia - microscopic view
Chronic myelocytic leukemia
Chronic myelocytic leukemia 		Chronic myelocytic leukemia
Chronic myelocytic leukemia 		Cryoglobulinemia - of the fingers
Cryoglobulinemia - of the fingers 		Antibodies
Antibodies

Definition

Leukemia is a group of bone marrow diseases involving an uncontrolled increase in white blood cells (leukocytes).

For information about a specific type of leukemia, see the following:

See also leukemia resources.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Symptoms

Signs and tests

Treatment

Support Groups

Expectations (prognosis)

Complications

Calling your health care provider

Prevention

References

Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG. Clinical Oncology. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004:2732.

Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Shattil SS, et al. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2005:1124-1126.

Review Date: 3/9/2007
Reviewd By: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.