Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- 52 Thyroid and other endocrine glands
- 53 Burkitt's lymphoma
- 54 Hodgkin's disease (HD)
- 55 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and mycosis fungoides
- 56 Multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemia
- 57 The leukemias
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
57 - The leukemias
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Historical introduction
- PART I Epidemiological methods
- PART II Causative factors in human cancer
- PART III Legal and ethical considerations
- PART IV Introduction: total and specific site epidemiology
- PART V Buccal cavity
- PART VI Digestive system
- PART VII Respiratory system
- PART VIII Bone and soft tissue
- PART IX Skin
- PART X Breast and genitourinary system
- PART XI Eye and nervous system
- PART XII Thyroid and other endocrine glands, lymphoid and hematopoietic system
- 52 Thyroid and other endocrine glands
- 53 Burkitt's lymphoma
- 54 Hodgkin's disease (HD)
- 55 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and mycosis fungoides
- 56 Multiple myeloma and macroglobulinemia
- 57 The leukemias
- PART XIII Cancers in children and multiple primary cancers
- Conclusions
- Appendix 1 Cancer statistics
- Appendix 2 A glossary of epidemiological terms
- Appendix 3 Acronyms and abbreviations
- Supplement
- Index
Summary
Introduction
The term leukemia covers a group of malignant diseases of the blood. As a whole, these constitute less than 5% of all cancers. Despite extensive studies over the last several decades, relatively little is known regarding causation. Childhood leukemias are discussed in Chapter 58.
Histology, classification and diagnosis
Leukemias have been classified traditionally according to the cytology and origin of the leukemic cells. The common types are lymphocytic and myelocytic in origin. The rarer varieties are monocytic, basophilic, eosinophilic, plasma cell, erythro- and hairy-cell leukemias. Each cell type can be further divided into two major groups: acute and chronic depending on the degree of cellular differentiation.
Modern classification is dependent on a growing number of histological, cytochemical and immunological techniques to identify specific cellular biomarkers. None the less, the classification of acute leukemia by cell type can be difficult and a number are described as stem cell. From an epidemiological point of view, it is sufficient to discuss leukemias as acute lymphocytic (ALL), chronic lymphocytic (CLL), and chronic myelocytic (CML).
In certain cases of CLL, there is a close association with lymphomas and a number of lymphomas terminate in a leukemic phase whether or not the bone marrow is initially involved.
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- Chapter
- Information
- Human CancerEpidemiology and Environmental Causes, pp. 470 - 476Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1992