Stages of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

There is no standard staging system for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The extent or spread of cancer is usually described as stages. Instead of stages, AML treatment is based on one or more of the following:

• the subtype of AML
• whether the leukemia has spread outside the blood and bone marrow
• whether the leukemia is newly diagnosed, in remission, refractory, or recurrent

Newly diagnosed (untreated) AML

In untreated AML, the disease is newly diagnosed. It has not been treated except to relieve signs and symptoms such as fever, bleeding, or pain, and the following are true:

• The complete blood count (CBC) is abnormal.
• At least 20% of the cells in the bone marrow are blasts (leukemia cells) or there are certain gene changes.
• There are signs or symptoms of leukemia.

AML in remission

In AML in remission, the disease has been treated and the following are true:

• The CBC is normal.
• Less than 5% of the cells in the bone marrow are blasts (leukemia cells).
• There are no signs or symptoms of leukemia in the brain and spinal cord or elsewhere in the body.

Refractory or recurrent AML

After treatment with chemotherapy, some people with newly diagnosed AML will not go into remission. This is called refractory cancer. In contrast, recurrent AML is cancer that has recurred (come back) after remission. The AML may come back in the blood or bone marrow.

Learn more in Recurrent Cancer: When Cancer Comes Back. Information to help you cope and talk with your health care team can be found in the booklet When Cancer Returns.