What characterizes acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

What characterizes acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

• A. Slow-growing cancer of mature lymphocytes.
• B. Malignancy of melanocytes in skin.
• C. Cancer of plasma cells in bone marrow.
• D. Rapidly progressing cancer of myeloid precursor cells, more common in adults.

Answer: (D)

Acute myeloid leukemia is defined by a rapid overgrowth of malignant myeloid precursor cells in the bone marrow, crowding out normal blood cell production. Because these immature cells proliferate quickly, people often develop symptoms from anemia, infections, and easy bruising within a short time frame. It is more common in adults, which helps distinguish it from other leukemias that are more common in children. This pattern—fast progression and origin in myeloid precursors—fits AML best. It’s not a slow-growing cancer of mature lymphocytes, not cancer of skin melanocytes, and not a plasma cell cancer in bone marrow, which is why the description of a rapidly progressing cancer of myeloid precursors is the correct characterization.

Acute myeloid leukemia is defined by a rapid overgrowth of malignant myeloid precursor cells in the bone marrow, crowding out normal blood cell production. Because these immature cells proliferate quickly, people often develop symptoms from anemia, infections, and easy bruising within a short time frame. It is more common in adults, which helps distinguish it from other leukemias that are more common in children.

This pattern—fast progression and origin in myeloid precursors—fits AML best. It’s not a slow-growing cancer of mature lymphocytes, not cancer of skin melanocytes, and not a plasma cell cancer in bone marrow, which is why the description of a rapidly progressing cancer of myeloid precursors is the correct characterization.