OBJECTIVES: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a genetically heterogenous myeloid neoplasm affecting the granulocytes and monocytes in the bone marrow. AML is the most common acute leukemia amongst the adult population as a result of genetic aberrations occurring predominantly in the elderly. Despite advancements in therapeutic methods, the prognosis remains very poor in the elderly population and its epidemiology is not well established.

METHODS: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of AML using the SEER database, a recently launched initiative by the Surveillance Research Program (SRP) in NCI’s Division of Cancer and Population Sciences (DCCPS). We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the SEER database by identifying patients with a diagnosis of AML using ICD-9-CM code 205.0 and ICD-10-CM code C92.00. Electronic medical records of each patient with AML were then analyzed to collect data on age, sex, and self-identified race.

RESULTS: The prevalence is highest in the 55-59 age group, increasing with age and a similar prevalence is found in all ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the data suggests that AML is most commonly found in adults and is equally prevalent in all ethnicities. Given similar prevalence among all ethnicities we might expect educational materials to depict AML in all skin types.