Leukemia, hairy cell
A rare type of chronic leukemia in which the abnormal white blood cells appear to be covered with tiny hairs when examined microscopically. The hairy cells are malignant B lymphocytes. There may be too few normal blood cells of all types because of an excess of leukemic cells in the bone marrow. The deficit of different types of normal blood cells can lead to anemia, easy bleeding, and a tendency to infection. Treatment may include chemotherapy, biological therapy, and surgery (to remove the enlarged spleen). In some cases, bone marrow transplantation is done.
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- Leukemia, juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.
- Leukemia, lymphocytic
Cancer of blood cells that are precursors of lymphocytes. The two major types of lymphocytic leukemia are acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CML). Also known as lymphoid leukemia.
- Leukemia, myelogenous
A condition in which the bone marrow makes too many white blood cells. Early symptoms include fatigue and night sweats. Treatment may be by radiation, chemotherapy, biological therapy, or bone- marrow transplant. Also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), chronic granulocytic leukemia.
- Leukemia, refractory
Leukemia in which the high level of white blood cells does not decrease in response to treatment.
- Leukemia, smoldering
A condition in which the bone marrow does not function normally. It does not produce enough blood cells. This condition may progress and become acute leukemia. Smoldering leukemia also is called myelodysplastic syndrome or preleukemia.