Types of leukemia

The two broad classifications of leukemia are acute (rapid progression) and chronic
(slow progression). The acute leukemias are characterized by abnormal numbers of
immature white cells (blasts). In chronic leukemia, mature white cells predominate.
Acute leukemia is the most common type of cancer found in children. The two most
common types of acute leukemia are acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute
myeloid leukemia (AML). AML is also known as acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia
(ANLL).
The two types of chronic leukemia are chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and juvenile
myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). Chronic leukemia accounts for less than 5 per-
cent of all childhood leukemia.
Table 2-1. Types of Childhood Leukemia
Acute Chronic
ALL (75%) AML (20%) CML (<5%) JMML (<1%)