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Leukemia

Definition

Leukemia: A progressive, malignant disease of the blood-forming organs, characterized by distorted proliferation and development of leukocytes and their precursors in the blood and bone marrow. Leukemias were originally termed acute or chronic based on life expectancy but now are classified according to cellular maturity. Acute leukemias consist of predominately immature cells; chronic leukemias are composed of more mature cells. (From The Merck Manual, 2006)

Annotations

general or unspecified; many specific leukemia types are available

Other Entries

Leukemias

Allowable Qualifiers

blood cerebrospinal fluid chemically induced classification complications congenital diagnosis diet therapy drug therapy economics embryology enzymology epidemiology ethnology etiology genetics history immunology metabolism microbiology mortality nursing parasitology pathology physiopathology prevention & control psychology radiography radionuclide imaging radiotherapy rehabilitation surgery therapy ultrasonography urine veterinary virology

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Entry Date

01-01-1999