| cancer, leukaemia | Leukaemia is a cancer of the white blood cells. Leukaemias are grouped by how quickly the disease develops (acute or chronic) as well as by the type of blood cell that is affected. People with leukaemia are at significantly increased risk for developing infections, anaemia, and bleeding. Diagnosis of leukaemia is supported by findings of the medical history and examination, and examining blood under a microscope. Leukaemia cells can be detected and further classified with a bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy. most patients with leukaemia are treated with chemotherapy. Some patients also may have radiation therapy and/or bone marrow transplantation. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| mast cell leukaemia | A form of granulocytic leukaemia in which there are unusually great numbers of basophilic granulocytes in the tissues and circulating blood; in some instances, the immature and mature basophilic forms may represent from 40 to 80% of the total numbers of white blood cells. Synonym: mast cell leukaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mature cell leukaemia | Chronic granulocytic leukaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| megakaryocytic leukaemia | An unusual form of myelopoietic disease that is characterised by a seemingly uncontrolled proliferation of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow, and sometimes by the presence of a considerable number of megakaryocytes in the circulating blood. When bone marrow is examined at various intervals in some instances of chronic myelocytic leukaemia, the proliferation of megakaryocytes is more prominent than that of the granulocytes; at such times, the circulating blood may contain megakaryocytes or fragments of megakaryocytic nuclei and cytoplasm, or both, amounting to as much as 5 or 6% of the total number of leukocytes. (05 Mar 2000) |
| meningeal leukaemia | Infiltration of the meninges by leukaemic cells, a common occurrence in relapse following systemic administration of chemotherapeutic agents to leukaemia patients. (05 Mar 2000) |
| granulocytic leukaemia | <haematology, tumour> A form of leukaemia characterised by an uncontrolled proliferation of myelopoietic cells in the bone marrow and in extramedullary sites, and the presence of large numbers of immature and mature granulocytic forms in various tissues (and organs) and in the circulating blood. The total count may range from 1000 (aleukaemic variety) to several hundred thousand per cu mm. The predominant cell is usually of the neutrophilic series, but, in a few instances, eosinophilic or basophilic granulocytes, or even megakaryocytes, may represent the chief form; early in granulocytic leukaemia, the circulating blood may contain excessive numbers of all of the granulocytic forms. Synonym: leukaemic myelosis, myelocytic leukaemia, myelogenic leukaemia, myelogenous leukaemia, myeloid leukaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Rieder cell leukaemia | A special form of acute granulocytic leukaemia in which the affected tissues and the circulating blood contain relatively large numbers of atypical myeloblasts (i.e., Rieder cells) that have the usual, faintly granular, immature type of cytoplasm, and a bizarre, comparatively mature nucleus with several wide and deep indentations (suggestive of lobulation). (05 Mar 2000) |
| chronic granulocytic leukaemia | <haematology> A leukaemia which is initially slowly-progressing. There are approximately 650 new cases each year in the UK. It is characterised by the presence of large numbers of abnormal mature granulocytes, circulating in the blood. Synonym: chronic granulocytic leukaemia. Acronym: CML Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (12 Jan 1998) |
| chronic leukaemia | A persistent cancer of the blood, usually of gradual onset and generally of slow progression. May be diagnosed by chance following a routine blood test and prior to the appearance of clinical symptoms. Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (13 Nov 1997) |
| chronic lymphocytic leukaemia | <haematology> A slowly progressing form of leukaemia, characterised by an increased number of the type of white blood cell known as lymphocytes. With about 3, 500 new cases occurring each year in the UK, it is the most common form of leukaemia and occurs predominantly in late middle age onwards. It has variable symptoms and course, but may be diagnosed by chance before the patient develops any clinical symptoms of disease. Acronym: CLL Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (12 Jan 1998) |
| chronic myeloid leukaemia | <haematology> A leukaemia which is initially slowly-progressing. There are approximately 650 new cases each year in the UK. It is characterised by the presence of large numbers of abnormal mature granulocytes, circulating in the blood. Synonym: chronic granulocytic leukaemia. Acronym: CML Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (12 Jan 1998) |
| chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia | <haematology> A form of myelodysplasia characterised by an increase in the number of circulating white blood cells of the monocyte type. Acronym: CMML Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (12 Jan 1998) |
| micromyeloblastic leukaemia | A form of myelocytic leukaemia in which relatively large proportions of micromyeloblasts are found in the circulating blood and in bone marrow and other tissues. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mixed cell leukaemia | Term infrequently used as a designation for granulocytic leukaemia, thereby emphasizing the occurrence of different types of cells in the myeloid series (i.e., neutrophilic, eosinophilic, and basophilic granulocytes), in contrast to the comparatively monotonous pattern observed in lymphocytic and monocytic leukaemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| CNS leukaemia | <oncology> Invasion of the brain or spinal cord by leukaemic cells. This may be diagnosed by examination of the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid. Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (13 Nov 1997) |