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Skilled medical practicioners are often able to distinguish between very similar diseases, and that distinction may make the difference between ineffective and life-saving treatment. For example, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of childhood leukemia, exhibits similar symptoms as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), including immature leukocytes. Treatment for one type, however, is not generally effective for the other.
Becuase of the subtlety of the distinction between ALL and AML, errors in diagnosis still occur, sometimes with unfortunate results. A reliable way of distinguishing the two must be possible. |