Leukemia most common in children

# Leukemias are evenly split between the acute and chronic forms, but among children one form accounts for about two-thirds of cases. This one form is:
A. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
B. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
C. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
D. Acute monoblastic

The correct answer is A. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).

The peak age for ALL is around four years old, and it is the form of acute leukemia that is the most responsive to therapy. Current therapies for ALL include chemotherapy with follow-up radiation and possible bone-marrow transplant after particularly high dose chemotherapy treatment or in cases of recurrence or if it is non-responsive to other treatments.

*** Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are the most common types in adults.

Although the exact cause of most leukemias remains unknown, increasing evidence suggests a combination of contributing factors. These factors include: familial tendency, congenital disorders (Down syndrome, or the presence of Philadelpltia chromosome -chronic myeloid leukemia), viruses (e.g., HTLVI, herpes-like viral particles have been cultured from patients and leukemic patients have high antibody titer to the Epstein-Barr virus), ionizing radiation and the exposure to the chemical benzene and cytotoxins such as alkylating agents.

Important: Oral lesions are most likely to be observed in myelogenous leukemia. These oral lesions may be the initial manifestation of the disease. The oral lesions include gingivitis, gingival hemorrhage, generalized gingival hyperplasia. petechiae, ecchymoses, and ulcerations.