What is the most common type of acute leukemia in children?

Question

Accepted Answer

B. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ## Epidemiology of Acute Leukemias in Children **Key Point:** Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for approximately 75–80% of all childhood acute leukemias, making it the most common hematologic malignancy in children. ### Frequency Distribution | Leukemia Type | Percentage in Children | Peak Age | |---|---|---| | ALL | 75–80% | 2–5 years | | AML | 15–20% | < 2 years, then increases after age 10 | | APL | 5–10% (of AML) | Adolescents and young adults | | AMonoL | < 5% | Rare in children | **High-Yield:** The peak incidence of childhood ALL is between 2–5 years of age. This age group represents the "common ALL" subtype, which carries a relatively favorable prognosis compared to infant ALL (< 1 year) or adolescent ALL (> 10 years). ### Immunophenotypic Subtypes of Childhood ALL - **B-cell ALL (85%):** Most common; includes common ALL (cALL, CD10+) and pre-B ALL - **T-cell ALL (15%):** Associated with older children and worse prognosis - **Burkitt leukemia:** Rare; associated with t(8;14) translocation **Clinical Pearl:** The favorable prognosis in childhood ALL (event-free survival > 85% in modern protocols) contrasts sharply with adult ALL, which has a 5-year survival of only 40–50%. This difference is due to better chemotherapy tolerance in children and the prevalence of favorable cytogenetics (e.g., hyperdiploidy, t(12;21)) in childhood ALL. **Warning:** Do not confuse ALL with lymphoma. ALL is a bone marrow–based disease with circulating blasts; lymphoma is a nodal/extranodal disease. However, Burkitt lymphoma and Burkitt leukemia represent a spectrum of the same disease (t(8;14)).

Answer

A. Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)

Answer

C. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Answer

D. Acute monocytic leukemia (AMonoL)

What is the most common type of acute leukemia in children?

Explanation

Epidemiology of Acute Leukemias in Children

Frequency Distribution

Immunophenotypic Subtypes of Childhood ALL

Practice similar questions

Join our NEET PG community

Leukemia Type	Percentage in Children	Peak Age
ALL	75–80%	2–5 years
AML	15–20%	< 2 years, then increases after age 10
APL	5–10% (of AML)	Adolescents and young adults
AMonoL	< 5%	Rare in children