This book provides an overview of the key developments in both acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia with a comprehensive guide to the epidemiology, pathogenesis, etiology, clinical manifestations, classification, diagnosis, and staging as well as the most recent developments in the therapeutic landscape for acute leukemia. The Handbook of Acute Leukemia offers readers a key resource into the future outlook for patients with leukemia and is edited and authored by internationally renowned experts in the field. Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells and acute leukemia means the condition progresses rapidly and aggressively, requiring immediate treatment. Acute leukemia is classified according to the type of white blood cells that are affected: either lymphocytes and myeloid cells.

Wolfgang Hiddemann, MD, PhD, is Professor of Medicine and Director of the Department of Internal Medicine III at the University of Munich,Germany. Dr Hiddemann is best known for his research on the pathogenesis of acute leukemias, and clinical trials in acute leukemias and malignant lymphomas. He is head of the German AML Cooperative Group (AMLCG), the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group (GLSG), and founding chairman of the European Mantle-Cell-Lymphoma Network. He is an active member of the editorial boards of several international journals and has been a member of the Steering Committees for the German Society of Hematology and Oncology and the German CancerAid. Dr Hiddemann has published nearly 600 scientific articles addressing various aspects of research in malignant lymphomas and acute leukemias. He has been awarded honorary memberships of the Hungarian Society of Hematology and Oncology and of the South African Society for Hematology. He also received the Honorary Medal ofthe Polish Society for Internal Medicine. In 2003, he was awarded the Charles Burpbacher Lectureship in Zürich, Switzerland, and in the same year the Emil Frei Leukemia Lectureship, Harvard University, Boston. He has also received the Jacqueline Seroussi Foundation Scientific Award.

Introduction.- Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and etiology of acute leukemia.- Clinical manifestations and diagnosis.- Diagnostic criteria, classification, and prognosis of acute leukemia.- Therapeutic management of acute myeloid leukemia.- Therapeutic management of acute promyelocytic leukemia.- Therapeutic management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.- Future outlook for acute leukemia