Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in children.

Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) is a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies caused by a clonal proliferation of primitive myeloid cells. 30 Infiltration of the bone marrow by these cells causes impairment of normal hematopoiesis and results in anemia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Recent progress in bone marrow culture techniques, cytogenetics, and immunology have contributed to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ANLL. Major therapeutic advances have also occurred because of improved supportive care and carefully designed prospective and randomized clinical trials. This article presents the current knowledge of the diagnosis and management of ANLL.