Epidemiology

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is rare. It is estimated that 6100 new cases of ALL, and 1400 associated deaths, will occur in the US in 2025.[10]

Median age at diagnosis is 17 years.[10] More than half of all new cases (52.7%) occur in those aged under 20 years.[10] Peak incidence occurs at age 1-4 years (7.7 per 100,000 [2018-2022 data]).[11]​ Incidence decreases to 2.6 per 100,000 by age 10-14 years (2018-2022 data).[11]

Incidence of ALL is slightly higher in males than females.[10] Incidence in the US is highest in Hispanic people (3.1 per 100,000 and 2.4 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively [2018-2022 data]) and lowest in non-Hispanic black people (1.1 per 100,000 and 0.9 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively [2018-2022 data]).[10]

B-ALL (arising from B lymphoid progenitors) accounts for approximately 75% of adult cases, with the remainder being predominantly T-ALL (arising from T lymphoid progenitors).​[3]​​ Mixed-phenotype (B-cell and T-cell) ALL may occur, but is exceptionally rare.

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