Childhood Leukemia

The major types of childhood leukemia include:

• Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This is the most common cancer in childhood, tends to occur most often in children between the ages of 2-6, and is treated with chemotherapy that is mostly administered in the outpatient setting.
• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This is the second most common type of leukemia diagnosed in children, most often diagnosed either in very young children (<2 years of age) or in teenagers. It is treated with chemotherapy, most often in the inpatient setting.
• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). This is a less common type of leukemia diagnosed in children, mostly in the teenage years. Treatment is typically with an oral chemotherapy drug that specifically targets the genetic abnormality in the leukemia cells.
• Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). This is a very rare type of leukemia, diagnosed in infants or very young children. Stem cell transplant is required, with some children receiving chemotherapy prior to stem cell transplant.

The specific cause for most leukemias in children is unknown, but there are a few known risk factors related to this type of cancer. These include:

• Genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
• Inherited immune system conditions, such as Ataxia-telangiectasia and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.
• Environmental risk factors, like exposure to radiation or chemotherapy given for other cancers.

We offer the latest tools and technology for diagnosing childhood cancer. The diagnosis of leukemia in children begins with a complete medical history and physical exam followed by medical tests. Diagnostic procedures for leukemia include:

• A complete blood count (CBC) to examine white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets
• Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy to look at the cavity where all blood cells in the body are made. This is where leukemia starts.
• State-of–the-art flow cytometry analysis, molecular diagnostics and a chromosome analysis to determine the subtype of leukemia
• A spinal tap to examine the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to determine if any of the leukemia has spread to the central nervous system

At Comer’s Children, we take a multidisciplinary approach to treating every child and teen with leukemia.

Your child’s specific treatment plan depends on a variety of factors and will be mapped out by our full team of pediatric cancer experts.

We offer conventional pediatric leukemia treatments, as well as the latest innovative therapies, and tailor the plan to each patient’s unique needs.