hematology and oncology
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Symptoms and Signs of AML
Symptoms of acute myeloid leukemia may be present for only days to weeks before diagnosis. The most common presenting symptoms are due to disrupted hematopoiesis with ensuing Anemia Thrombocytopenia Granulocytopenia Anemiacan manifest with fatigue, weakness, pallor, malaise, dyspnea on exertion, tachycardia, and exertional chest pain. Thrombocytopeniacan cause mucosal bleeding, easy bruising, petechiae/purpura, epistaxis, bleeding gums, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Hematuria and gastrointestinal bleeding are uncommon. Patients can present with spontaneous hemorrhage, including intracranial or intra-abdominal hematomas. Granulocytopenia (neutropenia)can lead to a high risk of infections, including those of bacterial, fungal, and viral etiologies. Patients may present with fevers and a severe and/or recurrent infection. The cause of fever often is not found, although granulocytopenia may lead to a rapidly progressing and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection. Leukemia cutis can have various appearances, including papules or nodules, and plaques, and may be erythematous, brown, hemorrhagic, or violaceous/gray-blue. Leukemic cell infiltration of other organ systems tends to be less common in AML than in ALL; however: Infiltration can enlarge the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Bone marrow and periosteal infiltration may cause bone and joint pain. Meningeal infiltration can result in cranial nerve palsies, headache, visual or auditory symptoms, altered mental status, and transient ischemic attack/stroke. 