Any of a group of hematological malignancies in which neoplastic cells develop from myeloid, monocytic, erythrocytic, or megakaryocytic precursors. AML is four times more common in adults than acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). In 2008, the American Cancer Society estimated about 13,300 Americans would be diagnosed with AML, and that the disease would cause 8,800 deaths. It occasionally follows a myelodysplastic disorder or aplastic anemia and sometimes occurs as a consequence of a familial disorder of fragile chromosomes (e.g., Fanconi’s syndrome).