Incidence of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Yorkshire, UK

Between 1980 and 1998, in the north-west of England, a significant rise in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia was caused by an Increase in the pr ecursor B-cell form of this disease. We analysed data on children who were diagnosed with leukaemia in Yorkshire, UK, between 1974 and 1997. The incid ence of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia remained stable, although a non-signi ficant yearly increase of 2.4% was noted for the precursor B-cell form of t his disease from 1980 onwards. The precursor B-cell form accounted for 80% of all acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Our data are not consistent with incr easing Incidence for precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, althou gh numbers of children with acute myeloid leukaemia are rising.