lymphocytic leukemia

A type of leukemia (cancer that starts in the blood-forming tissue in the bone marrow) in which there is an increase in the number of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell that fights germs, foreign substances or cancer cells) or lymphoblasts (immature lymphocytes) in the blood and bone marrow.

Lymphocytic leukemia can be chronic (slow growing) or acute (fast growing and aggressive).

Also called lymphoblastic leukemia.