guidebook. - Fanconi Anemia Research Fund

Glossary
Ablation: To remove or destroy, especially by cutting
or abrading diseased tissue. 1
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC): This number is
important in determining the body’s capacity to fight a
bacterial infection. To determine the ANC, multiply the
percentage of neutrophils (found in the “differential”
section of the CBC) by the total number of white blood
cells. Include both mature neutrophils (usually designated
as “segs”) and more immature forms (often called
“bands”). 2
Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): An aggressive
(fast-growing) type of leukemia (blood cancer) in
which too many lymphoblasts (immature white blood
cells) are found in the blood and bone marrow. Common
symptoms are weakness and fatigue, easy bruising
and petechiae, and sometimes frequent infections. 4 ALL
is uncommon in FA patients.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): A quickly progressing
disease which frequently develops in FA patients,
in which too many immature white blood cells (not
lymphocytes) are found in the blood and bone marrow.
The cells that dominate the bone marrow of patients
with AML are known as “blasts.” Anemia, low platelet
counts, and variable white blood cell counts characterize
this disease. Common symptoms are weakness and
fatigue, easy bruising and petechiae, and sometimes
frequent infections. Also called acute myeloblastic
leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute nonlymphocytic
leukemia, AML, and ANLL. 2,4