acute leukemia
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A rapidly progressing form of leukemia, a cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues, characterized by the rapid increase of immature, non-functional white blood cells (blasts) in the bone marrow and blood.
Usage
This medical term is used to describe a specific, aggressive type of leukemia. It is typically modified by the specific cell type involved (e.g., acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia). * The patient was diagnosed with acute leukemia and began chemotherapy immediately. * Acute leukemia requires prompt and intensive treatment.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often contrasted with "chronic leukemia," which progresses more slowly.
- In clinical contexts, the specific subtype (e.g., ALL for acute lymphoblastic leukemia) is usually specified for precise diagnosis and treatment planning.
Variants and Related Words
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL): A type of acute leukemia that arises from lymphoid cells.
- Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): A type of acute leukemia that arises from myeloid cells.
- Leukemia: The general term for cancers of the blood-forming tissues.
- Blast: An immature blood cell, typically seen in high numbers in acute leukemia.
Synonyms
- Rapidly progressing leukemia
Antonyms
- Chronic leukemia
Noun
- rapidly progressing leukemia