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Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Blood Heart Circulation

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a fast-progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that occurs when abnormal cells crowd out healthy blood-forming tissues.

What is leukemia?

Leukemia is a term for cancers of the blood cells. Leukemia starts in blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow. Your bone marrow makes the cells which will develop into white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Each type of cell has a different job:

  • White blood cells help your body fight infection
  • Red blood cells deliver oxygen from your lungs to your tissues and organs
  • Platelets help form clots to stop bleeding

When you have leukemia, your bone marrow makes large numbers of abnormal cells. This problem most often happens with white blood cells. These abnormal cells build up in your bone marrow and blood. They crowd out the healthy blood cells and make it hard for your cells and blood to do their work.

What is acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of acute leukemia. "Acute" means that the leukemia usually gets worse quickly if it's not treated. In AML, the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (a type of white blood cell), red blood cells, or platelets. When the abnormal cells crowd out the healthy cells, it can lead to infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. The abnormal cells can also spread outside the blood to other parts of the body.

There are several different subtypes of AML. The subtypes are based on how developed the cancer cells are when you get your diagnosis and how different they are from normal cells.

What causes acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

AML happens when there are changes in the genetic material (DNA) in bone marrow cells. The cause of these genetic changes is unknown. However, there are certain factors that raise your risk of AML.

Who is at risk for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

The factors that raise your risk of AML include:

  • Being male
  • Smoking, especially after age 60
  • Having had chemotherapy or radiation therapy
  • Treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as a child
  • Exposure to the chemical benzene
  • A history of another blood disorder such as myelodysplastic syndrome

What are the symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

The signs and symptoms of AML include:

  • Fever
  • Shortness of breath
  • Easy bruising or bleeding
  • Petechiae, which are tiny red dots under the skin. They are caused by bleeding.
  • Weakness or feeling tired
  • Weight loss or loss of appetite
  • Bone or joint pain, if the abnormal cells build up near or inside the bones

How is acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosed?

Your health care provider may use many tools to diagnose AML and figure out which subtype you have:

  • A physical exam
  • A medical history
  • Blood tests, such as a complete blood count (CBC) and blood smear
  • Bone marrow tests. There are two main types - bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy. Both tests involve removing a sample of bone marrow and bone. The samples are sent to a lab for testing.
  • Genetic tests to look for gene and chromosome changes

If you are diagnosed with AML, you may have additional tests to see whether the cancer has spread. These include imaging tests and a lumbar puncture, which is a procedure to collect and test cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

What are the treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

Treatments for AML include:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy with stem cell transplant
  • Other anticancer medicines

Which treatment you get often depends on which subtype of AML you have. Treatment is usually done in two phases:

  • The goal of the first phase is to kill the leukemia cells in the blood and bone marrow. This puts the leukemia into remission. Remission means that the signs and symptoms of cancer are reduced or have disappeared.
  • The second phase is known as post-remission therapy. Its goal is to prevent a relapse (return) of the cancer. It involves killing any remaining leukemia cells that may not be active but could begin to regrow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Early signs of AML can be subtle and often mimic less serious conditions, but they are due to the abnormal cells crowding out healthy ones. Look for persistent fatigue, shortness of breath, frequent infections or fevers, easy bruising or bleeding (like nosebleeds or gum bleeding), unexplained weight loss, and pale skin. Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen from an enlarged spleen or liver can also occur.
ML is generally not considered hereditary in the typical sense, meaning it's rarely passed directly from parent to child. Most cases are caused by acquired genetic mutations that happen during a person's lifetime. However, certain genetic syndromes (like Down syndrome or Fanconi anemia) can increase risk. Other risk factors include prior chemotherapy or radiation therapy, exposure to certain chemicals (like benzene), and smoking. Most people with AML have no clear risk factors.
Diagnosing AML usually starts with a physical exam and a complete blood count (CBC) to check for abnormal levels of white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. If abnormalities are found, a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration are performed, where a small sample of bone marrow is taken, usually from the hip bone, to look for abnormal myeloblasts. Genetic tests on these cells help determine the specific AML subtype and guide treatment.
Treatment for AML is aggressive due to its fast progression. The primary treatment is chemotherapy, often in two phases: induction therapy to kill as many leukemia cells as possible, and consolidation therapy to prevent relapse. For some patients, a stem cell transplant (bone marrow transplant) may be recommended, especially if the AML is high-risk or relapses. Targeted therapies and new immunotherapies are also emerging options.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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