Any of several malignant diseases where an unusual number of leucocytes form in the blood.
Leukaemia is an umbrella term for several malignant disorders of white blood cells, in which they proliferate in a disorganized manner. The disease is also characterized by enlargement of the spleen, changes in the bone marrow, and enlargement of the lymph glands all over the body. The condition may be either acute or chronic.
Blood disease characterized by a proliferation of white blood cells.
Several types of cancer fall under the category where there is uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. This excessive increase in white cells hampers the production of regular blood cells in the marrow. A decrease in red blood cells results in anemia, while a decline in normal white cells heightens vulnerability to infections. Insufficient platelets can lead to abnormal bleeding. Additionally, organs like the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, or brain might experience impaired function if they become infiltrated by these irregular cells.
Leukemias can be categorized as either acute or chronic, with acute forms typically progressing more rapidly than chronic ones. They are also categorized based on the specific type of white blood cell that is undergoing abnormal proliferation. When the abnormal cells are lymphocytes or lymphoblasts (early forms of lymphocytes), the leukemia is referred to as lymphocytic or lymphoblastic leukemia. On the other hand, if the abnormal cells originate from different types of white blood cells or their precursor cells, the condition is termed myeloid, myeloblastic, or granulocytic leukemia.