Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The tests used to diagnose childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia may include complete blood count (CBC), bone marrow aspiration and biopsy (with immunophenotyping and genetic tests). 

There is no staging system for leukemia, but leukemic cells can spread outside the blood or bone marrow to other parts of the body, including the brain, spinal cord, or testis. Instead of staging, risk groups are used to plan treatment in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The three risk groups in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia include standard risk, high risk, and very high risk. 

The mainstay of treatment for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia is chemotherapy. In some high-risk cases, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and/or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is also used for the treatment. In relapsed pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy can be a treatment option.