Which statement best describes leukemia as presented?

Which statement best describes leukemia as presented?

• A. The disease is an infection causing increased white blood cell production
• B. The disease is a type of cancer characterized by an increase in immature WBCs
• C. The disease is an inflammation associated with enlargement of the lymph nodes
• D. The disease is an allergic disorder involving increased circulating antibodies in the blood

Answer: (B)

Leukemia is cancer of the blood-forming tissues, marked by malignant, uncontrolled production of white blood cells, usually in immature forms called blasts. This means the bone marrow churns out a large number of abnormal WBCs that are not fully developed and don’t function properly. Because these blasts crowd out normal blood cell production, you can see problems like infections, fatigue from anemia, and easy bruising from low platelets, even though the total white cell count may be high. The statement that best describes leukemia is that it is a type of cancer characterized by an increase in immature WBCs. It isn’t simply an infection that raises WBCs, nor an inflammatory process with enlarged lymph nodes, nor an allergic disorder with elevated antibodies.

Leukemia is cancer of the blood-forming tissues, marked by malignant, uncontrolled production of white blood cells, usually in immature forms called blasts. This means the bone marrow churns out a large number of abnormal WBCs that are not fully developed and don’t function properly. Because these blasts crowd out normal blood cell production, you can see problems like infections, fatigue from anemia, and easy bruising from low platelets, even though the total white cell count may be high.

The statement that best describes leukemia is that it is a type of cancer characterized by an increase in immature WBCs. It isn’t simply an infection that raises WBCs, nor an inflammatory process with enlarged lymph nodes, nor an allergic disorder with elevated antibodies.