monocytic leukemia

monocytic leukemia /mon′əsit″ik/ , a malignancy of blood-forming tissues in which the predominant cells are monocytes. The disease has an erratic course characterized by malaise, fatigue, fever, anorexia, weight loss, splenomegaly, bleeding gums, dermal petechiae, anemia, and lack of responsiveness to therapy. There are two forms: Schilling’s leukemia, in which most of the cells are monocytes that probably arise from the reticuloendothelial system, and the more common Naegeli’s leukemia, in which a large number of the cells resemble myeloblasts. Also called histiocytic leukemia.