Which leukemia is most common in older adults?

Which leukemia is most common in older adults?

• A. Rapidly progressing cancer of lymphoid precursor cells.
• B. Malignancy of plasma cells in bone marrow.
• C. Slowly progressive cancer of mature lymphocytes, most common in older adults.
• D. Malignancy of melanocytes in skin.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is recognizing a leukemia that appears mainly in older adults and progresses slowly. The description fits chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which arises from mature B lymphocytes and tends to have an indolent, slowly progressive course. It’s the most common leukemia in older adults, often presenting with high lymphocyte counts and sometimes enlarged lymph nodes or spleen, but may be found incidentally. By contrast, rapidly progressing cancers of lymphoid precursor cells describe acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a disease common in children and less typical for older adults. Malignancy of plasma cells in the bone marrow refers to multiple myeloma, not leukemia, and malignancy of melanocytes in the skin is melanoma, a skin cancer.

The key idea is recognizing a leukemia that appears mainly in older adults and progresses slowly. The description fits chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which arises from mature B lymphocytes and tends to have an indolent, slowly progressive course. It’s the most common leukemia in older adults, often presenting with high lymphocyte counts and sometimes enlarged lymph nodes or spleen, but may be found incidentally.

By contrast, rapidly progressing cancers of lymphoid precursor cells describe acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a disease common in children and less typical for older adults. Malignancy of plasma cells in the bone marrow refers to multiple myeloma, not leukemia, and malignancy of melanocytes in the skin is melanoma, a skin cancer.