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Atypical Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
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Atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia is a disease in which too many granulocytes (immature white blood cells) are made in the bone marrow.
In atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia (aCML), the body tells too many blood stem cells to develop into a type of white blood cell called granulocytes. Some of these blood stem cells never become mature white blood cells. These immature white blood cells are called blasts. Over time, the granulocytes and blasts crowd out the red blood cells and platelets in the bone marrow.
The leukemia cells in aCML and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) look alike under a microscope. However, in aCML a certain chromosome change, called the "Philadelphia chromosome" is not present.
Possible signs of atypical chronic myelogenous leukemia include easy bruising or bleeding and feeling tired and weak.
These and other symptoms may be caused by aCML. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
- Shortness of breath.
- Pale skin.
- Feeling very tired and weak.
- Easy bruising or bleeding.
- Petechiae (flat, pinpoint spots under the skin caused by bleeding).
- Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs on the left side.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery).
The prognosis (chance of recovery) for aCML depends on the number of red blood cells and platelets in the blood.
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