LEUKEMIA  Having an inherited condition that affects the body’s immune

system
- Distorted and uncontrolled proliferation of WBCs
 Having a brother or sister with leukemia
(leukocytes)
- Most frequently occurring type of cancer in children Symptoms
- Cancer of the body’s blood-forming tissues, including the
bone marrow and the lymphatic system  Easy bruising or bleeding, such as nosebleeds or bleeding
- Usually involves WBC -> potent infection fighters-they gums
normally grow and divide in an orderly way, as your body  Pale skin
needs them. But in people with leukemia, the bone marrow  Feeling tired, weak, or cold
produces an excessive amount of abnormal white blood  Dizziness
cells, which don’t function properly  Headaches
- Cancer of blood  SOB, trouble breathing
 Cancer cells grow in bone marrow and go into  Frequent or long-term infections
blood. When a child has leukemia, the bone marrow  Fever
makes abnormal blood cells that don’t mature  Bone or joint pain
(abnormal cells are usually WBC or leukocytes).  Belly (abdominal) swelling
The bone marrow also makes fewer healthy cells.  Poor appetite
The abnormal cells reproduce very quickly (doesn’t
 Weight loss
work the same as healthy cells).
 Swollen lymph glands (nodes)
Types of Blood Cells
Diagnosis
Red Blood Cells (erythrocytes): carries oxygen.
 Bone Marrow Aspiration or Biopsy. Bone marrow is found in
 When a child has a low level of healthy RBCs -> ANEMIA -> the center of some bones. It’s where blood cells are made. A
child may feel tired, weak, and SOB small amount of bone marrow fluid may be taken
(aspiration). Or solid bone marrow tissue may be taken
Platelets (thrombocytes): helps with blood clotting and stops bleeding.
(biopsy). Bone marrow is usually taken from the hip bone.
 When a child has low levels of platelets, he or she bruises This test is done to see if cancer cells are in the bone
and bleeds more easily marrow.
 Lab Tests of Blood and Bone Marrow Examples. Tests like
White Blood Cells (leukocytes): fights infections and other disease. flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. These tests
 When a child has low levels of white blood cells, he or she is determine the exact type of leukemia. DNA and chromosome
more likely to have infections tests may also be done.
 X-ray. Uses a small amount of radiation to take pictures of
Types of Leukemias in Children bones and other body tissues.
Most leukemias in children are acute, which means they tend to grow  Ultrasound (sonography). uses sound waves and a computer
quickly. to create images.
 Lymph Node Biopsy. A sample of tissue is taken from the
 Acute Lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL): most lymph nodes. It’s checked with a microscope for cancer
common type cells.
 Acute myelogenous (myeloid, myelocytic, non-lymphocytic)
leukemia (AML): second most common
 Hybrid or mixed lineage leukemia: rare type (mix of ALL &
AML)
 Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML): rare type in children
 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): extremely rare in
children
 Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML): rare type of
cancer that doesn’t grow quickly (acute) or slowly (chronic)

Cause

Exact cause of leukemia in children is NOT KNOWN.

- INHERITED: There are certain conditions passed on from

parents to children that increase childhood leukemia.
o Most leukemia is not inherited
- MUTATIONS: researchers have found changes in genes of
the bone marrow cells
o These changes may occur in a child’s life or even
before birth
- SPORADIC: occur by chance

Risk Factors

 Exposure to high levels of radiation

 Having certain inherited syndromes, such as down syndrome
and Li-Fraumeni syndrome

By: YJH <3