Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

Why this name covers more than one condition

ALL is one name for what doctors treat as more than one disease. The first split is lineage: which kind of white blood cell the leukemia came from. B-cell ALL is much the more common and is the one most children have. T-cell ALL is rarer, lands more often on older children, teenagers and young adults, and has fewer drug options if it returns. The second split is genetic — some B-cell ALL carries a change called the Philadelphia chromosome, which brings a targeted tablet into the treatment. The name on your letter may be any of these, or just "ALL".

The conditions under this name

• B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL)

  For some people with this condition, a transplant using blood stem cells from an unrelated donor is part of the treatment guidelines. When a transplant is the right route and no one in the family matches, that donor comes from a registry. Not everyone with this condition has a transplant, and many never need one.

  A stranger can be the match

• T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL)

  For some people with this condition, a transplant using blood stem cells from an unrelated donor is part of the treatment guidelines. When a transplant is the right route and no one in the family matches, that donor comes from a registry. Not everyone with this condition has a transplant, and many never need one.

  A stranger can be the match

• Philadelphia-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

  For some people with this condition, a transplant using blood stem cells from an unrelated donor is part of the treatment guidelines. When a transplant is the right route and no one in the family matches, that donor comes from a registry. Not everyone with this condition has a transplant, and many never need one.

  A stranger can be the match