Leukemia, Acute Lymphoblastic in Adults (ALL) was found in 5-Minute Clinical Consult which helps you diagnose, treat, and follow up on over 900 medical conditions seen in everyday practice.
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Basics
Description
- ALL in adults is a malignant proliferation and accumulation of immature lymphocytes.
- ALL is the most common malignancy in children (see “ http://Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Pediatric”)
- System(s) affected: Hemic/Lymphatic/Immunologic
- Synonym(s): Acute lymphocytic leukemia
Pregnancy Considerations
Many chemotherapy drugs are teratogenic.
Epidemiology
- Predominant age: Median age, 35–40 years; incidence increases with age.
- Predominant sex: Male > Female (slightly)
Incidence
In the US: 1,000 adult cases per year
Risk Factors
- Age >60 years
- Incidence seems to increase after exposure to chemical agents, such as benzene, or to radiation, but acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is more common.
- May follow aplastic anemia
- Increased incidence in children with Down syndrome or in rare familial diseases such as ataxia-telangiectasia, Bloom syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Klinefelter syndrome, and neurofibromatosis
- Can rarely occur in adult identical twins
Etiology
- Unknown
- Epstein-Barr virus is implicated in Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma.
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