The Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukamia - Research Paper Example

There are therefore four types of leukemia: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) (American Cancer Society, 2011). This research paper will stipulate the differences between AML and CLL. To begin with, AML is the most common type of leukemia among the four types. It is an acute form of leukemia since it has a rapid onset one that necessitates the need for immediate intervention. In contrast, CLL is a chronic form of leukemia of insidious onset.

It is of asymptomatic type and takes long before the symptoms are fully blown (ACS, 2011). Consequently, AML is a leukemia affecting the hematopoietic cells. It alters the formation of red blood cells from the bone marrow meaning the patient will present with symptoms of anemia. AML also alters the formation of white blood cells (excluding lymphocytes) stipulating compromised immunity to the patient. Platelets being hematopoietic cells are also affecting translating to bleeding disorders. In contrast, CLL entails the abnormal formation of lymphocytes (T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killers) hence the patient’s ability to fight infection is limited (Michael, 2008).

Statistically, AML accounts for 12, 950 of all types of leukemia diagnosed in the United States out of which 9,650 deaths result from AML. It is not common before the age of 40 years and is common among adults, the mean age being 67 years. It is slightly more common in men than women, the prevalence in men is 1: 250 while in women it is 1:300. In contrast, CLL has a prevalence of 15, 340 in the United States, with an average diagnosis age of 72 years. There is no disparity in its prevalence among men and women (ACS, 2011).

In addition, AML is characterized by immature stem cells. These abnormal cells originate from the bone marrow and continually divide in a constant form. The rapid and continuous growth of abnormal cells prevents the formation of normal cells to maturity. This translates to the patient presenting with symptoms of affected cell production however, a huge number of mature cancerous cells characterizes CLL. Their growth is slow leading to reduced production. This translates to accumulation of the mature cancerous cells (ACS, 2011).

Subsequently, AML responds well to chemotherapy remitting up to 50% of the cancer. CLL because of the progression of the cancer cells does not respond well to chemotherapy. CLL patients respond well to radiotherapy, surgical excision of large lymph tumors, and bone marrow transplants (Tah, 2008). Additionally, metastasis exhibited by AML is different from that exhibited by CLL. AML involves cancer cells of the pluripotent stem cell responsible for the formation of blood cells. This makes the metastasis faster as leukemia spreads via the blood to the peripheral blood system.

The majority of the diagnosis is made from the peripheral blood. In CLL maturation of the abnormal lymphocytes, which mimic the normal lymphocytes, takes place in the lymph hence they are diagnosed mainly from the lymph nodes (Tah, 2008). Furthermore, AML is diagnostically differentiated from CLL. Upon a bone marrow aspirate, the presence of the enzyme myeloperoxidase is a distinguishing factor of AML.