Staging
Staging is done after the diagnosis of leukemia. Different types of leukemia are staged on a different basis. To stage the CML and AML, the blood and bone marrow is checked for the presence of immature WBCs or myeloblasts. To stage the CLL and ALL, the number of white blood cells at the time of diagnosis is checked. The type of cells involved in the disease and appearance of cancerous cells under the microscope is checked to stage the ALL and AML.
Assessing the development
There are many other tests used to check the development of the disease.
- To check if cancerous cells are attacking or affecting the liver, test for assessing the liver function is used.
- To determine the growth rate of the cancerous cells, the DNA of the cells is examined by flow cytometry.
- X-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, and other imaging tests are used to check for damage to other body organs by cancerous cells.
- The lumbar puncture technique is used to check if the cancer is spreading to the Central Nervous System(CNS). This technique involves the insertion of a thin needle between the vertebrae of the lower back and spinal fluid is collected and tested.