Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (pronunciation: KRON-ik MY-uh-LOH-jus loo-KEE-mee-uh), also known as CML or Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, is a type of cancer that starts in certain blood-forming cells of the bone marrow.

Etymology

The term "Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia" is derived from the Greek words "chronos" (time), "myelos" (marrow), "genous" (origin), and "leukemia" (white blood).

Overview

In CML, a genetic change takes place in an early (immature) version of myeloid cells - the cells that make red blood cells, platelets, and most types of white blood cells (except lymphocytes). This change forms an abnormal gene called BCR-ABL, which turns the cell into a CML cell. The leukemia cells grow and divide, building up in the bone marrow and spilling over into the blood. In time, the cells can also invade other parts of the body.

Symptoms

The symptoms of CML during the early stages are often very mild and may go unnoticed. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include fatigue, weight loss, pain or fullness below the ribs on the left side due to an enlarged spleen, and fever.

Diagnosis

CML is often suspected based on the complete blood count, which can show increased white blood cells and platelets. The diagnosis is confirmed by a blood test or bone marrow biopsy that shows the Philadelphia chromosome or BCR-ABL gene.

Treatment

Treatment options for CML include tyrosine kinase inhibitors, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant, biologic therapy, and targeted therapy.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
Wikipedia's article - Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

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