Types of Leukemia

Leukemias are named for the type of blood stem cell affected and how quickly the disease develops and progresses. Acute leukemias grow rapidly, leading to symptoms, and they worsen quickly without treatment. Chronic leukemias are slower to develop.

Our hematologist-oncologists at Fred Hutch Cancer Center care for patients with all leukemia types and know which treatments are effective for your diagnosis and situation.

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Types of Leukemia

There are four main types of leukemia in adults:

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), also called acute lymphocytic leukemia or acute lymphoid leukemia
  • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), also called acute myelogenous leukemia or acute myelocytic leukemia
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), also called chronic lymphoid leukemia or chronic lymphoblastic leukemia
  • Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also called chronic myelogenous leukemia or chronic myelocytic leukemia

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is also known as acute lymphocytic leukemia. ALL starts in the bone marrow where blood cells are made. It is more common in children than in adults.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is also called acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, or sometimes just AML. It is most common in older people.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type that starts in white blood cells (called lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. CLL mainly affects older adults. It accounts for about one-third of all leukemias.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia. It's a type of cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and invades the blood. About 15% of leukemias in adults are CML.

Hairy Cell Leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare subtype of chronic lymphocytic leukemia that tends to grow slowly. People with HCL who aren't having symptoms often don't need to be treated right away, but they do need to be watched carefully.

Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. Cells in the bone marrow that produce blood cells (red cells, white cells and platelets) do not develop and function normally.

T-cell Leukemia

T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia is an extremely rare and typically aggressive cancer characterized by the out-of-control growth of mature T cells.

Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a rare type of blood cancer. It starts in blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. CMML grows slowly, but over time the leukemia cells can spill out into the blood and reach other parts of the body, such as the spleen. About 15% to 30% of people with CMML go on to develop acute myeloid leukemia.

Large Granular Lymphocytic Leukemia

Large granular lymphocytic leukemia is a type of chronic leukemia affecting white blood cells.

B-Cell Leukemia

B-cell leukemia is a subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These leukemias start in early forms of B lymphocytes (B cells). They are grouped mainly by certain gene or chromosome changes in the leukemia cells.

Plasma Cell Leukemia

Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare and aggressive subtype of multiple myeloma, a bone marrow cancer.