There are multiple
types of leukemia and additional classifications within those types. An
accurate diagnosis of the specific type of leukemia is critical to developing
an effective treatment plan.
At
UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, we diagnose and treat all types of
leukemia, including acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia,
chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelodysplasia
(pre-leukemia).
The Diagnostic Process
People with chronic
leukemia often experience no symptoms, and many patients are diagnosed after
having blood work done for another reason. Acute leukemia, on the other hand,
can cause symptoms that quickly arise and get worse.
If leukemia is
suspected based on a physical exam and symptoms, we'll order additional tests
that include:
- Blood analysis, which assesses the numbers, types,
and shapes of blood cells, as well as other characteristics that could
indicate leukemia
- Bone marrow biopsy to detect leukemia cells in the bone
marrow
At UT Southwestern,
we work with specialized pathologists called hematopathologists who are
uniquely trained to identify and classify blood cancers.
