The AML medical abbreviation most often means acute myeloid leukemia, a fast growing cancer of the bone marrow and blood that starts in the cells that normally become red cells, platelets and most white cells. It is also called acute myelogenous leukemia. In kidney imaging, AML can mean angiomyolipoma, a usually benign tumor, and on heart echo reports it can mean the anterior mitral leaflet.
Spoken aloud, AML is a medical acronym said as three letters, and the setting usually settles which meaning applies: a hematology or oncology note means leukemia, a CT or ultrasound of the kidney means angiomyolipoma, and an echocardiogram means the heart valve. People sometimes search for an AML prescription abbreviation, but AML is not a dosing or pharmacy term. It appears as a diagnosis on records, not as an instruction on a label.
At a glance
Stands for
Acute myeloid (myelogenous) leukemiaOther meanings
Angiomyolipoma (kidney); anterior mitral leaflet (heart)Diagnosed by
Blood counts, bone marrow biopsy, genetic testsSpecialty
Hematology and oncologyRelated subtype
APL, acute promyelocytic leukemiaDo not confuse with
CLL, ALL, CML, other leukemias
Acute myeloid leukemia in plain terms
In AML, immature cells called myeloblasts or blasts grow out of control in the bone marrow. They crowd out healthy cell production, so people may have too few red cells, causing tiredness and paleness, too few platelets, causing easy bruising or bleeding, and too few working white cells, raising infection risk. Acute means it tends to develop and worsen quickly, often over weeks.
AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults and is more frequent in older age, though it can occur at any age, including childhood. Risk factors include prior chemotherapy or radiation, some blood disorders such as MDS, smoking, benzene exposure and certain inherited conditions. Many people have no known risk factor.
How the diagnosis is made
A CBC often raises the first concern, showing low counts or blasts in the blood. A bone marrow aspiration and biopsy confirms the diagnosis by measuring the share of blasts and examining the cells. Genetic and molecular tests on the marrow look for changes such as FLT3, NPM1 or certain chromosome rearrangements. These results sort AML into subtypes and risk groups, which strongly shape treatment choices and outlook.
One subtype, acute promyelocytic leukemia, or APL, deserves its own mention. It can cause serious bleeding and clotting problems such as DIC, so it is treated urgently, often with all trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide rather than standard chemotherapy.
Reading an AML medical abbreviation note
Oncology note: "AML in CR1 after 7+3 induction, referred for allo HSCT." The patient has acute myeloid leukemia now in a first complete remission after the first phase of chemotherapy, a common regimen using seven days of cytarabine and three days of an anthracycline, and is being sent for a donor stem cell transplant.
CR1 means first complete remission, when blood counts recover and the marrow no longer shows leukemia under standard testing. Induction is the first intense treatment phase, followed by consolidation. Allo HSCT is an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant, which carries a risk of GVHD.
Treatment approaches in general
Plans depend on the subtype, genetic findings, age, overall health and the person's goals. Intensive chemotherapy, targeted medicines that act on specific mutations, lower intensity treatments such as venetoclax with azacitidine for people who cannot take intensive therapy, and stem cell transplant are all used. Supportive care, including transfusions, infection prevention and close monitoring of the ANC, is a major part of treatment. The hematology team explains which options fit a given case.
Other meanings of AML
| Meaning | Where it appears | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Angiomyolipoma | Kidney CT, MRI or ultrasound; urology | A tumor made of blood vessels, smooth muscle and fat, usually benign |
| Anterior mitral leaflet | Echocardiogram reports | One of the two flaps of the mitral valve |
A radiology line such as "2 cm fat containing lesion right kidney, c/w AML" refers to angiomyolipoma, not leukemia. An echo line about prolapse or thickening of the AML refers to the valve.
Frequently asked questions
What does AML stand for in medical terms?
AML most often stands for acute myeloid leukemia, a fast growing cancer of the bone marrow and blood. It may also mean angiomyolipoma in kidney imaging or anterior mitral leaflet on a heart echo.
Is AML a prescription abbreviation?
No. AML is a diagnosis abbreviation, not a dosing or pharmacy instruction, so it will not appear as directions on a medicine label. It may appear on medical records or in notes explaining why a medicine was prescribed.
What is the difference between AML and CLL?
AML is an acute leukemia of myeloid cells that tends to progress quickly. CLL is a chronic leukemia of lymphocytes that often grows slowly over years.
What does AML mean on a kidney scan?
On a kidney CT, MRI or ultrasound, AML usually means angiomyolipoma, a tumor made of fat, smooth muscle and blood vessels. Most are benign, though larger ones may be monitored or treated.