leukemia

Term: leukemia

Origin:  Anc Greek λευκό/lephko(=white) + αίμα/hema(=suffix  pertaining to blood)

Coined: by German pathologist Rudolf Virchow (1821–1902), in 1856 who is considered as the father of modern pathology. Virchow was the first to describe the abnormal excess of white blood cells. The term “acute leukemia” introduced by German physician Wilhelm Ebstein(1836-1912)  in 1889 as a distinct clinical entity characterized by rapid and fatal progression in comparison to chronic leukemias.

Definition:

Leukemia is a type of cancer originated from stem cells of bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of white cells.