Sloan-Kettering - Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

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Information for those newly diagnosed with leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia or AML (also called acute myelogenous leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia) is a malignancy that arises in white blood cells, which battle infectious agents throughout the body.

In this section, you can find up-to-date information about this form of leukemia and learn about Memorial Sloan-Kettering's expertise in caring for patients with the disease.

Overview
AML, one of the most common leukemias in adults, is diagnosed in about 13,400 people in the United States each year.
Symptoms
The symptoms of acute leukemia generally appear suddenly and can be similar to those of a virus or flu.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing AML can include smoking, inherited, or genetic, traits, and exposure to cancer-causing agents in the environment. There is only a very small chance that a person who has one of the few known risk factors for AML will develop the disease.
Diagnosis
Physicians perform an array of tests to help diagnose leukemia and determine both its type and specific subtype.
Classification
Physicians classify AML using a system devised by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Treatment
Physicians devise a course of treatment for each AML patient that takes a number of factors into consideration.
Follow-up Care
After the completion of leukemia treatment, patients should see their physicians for frequent follow-up exams for several years.