What causes acute myelogenous leukemia?

DNA mutations: Leukemias occur due to mutations in dna. Many mutations have been linked to aml, however, the cause for most of the mutations remains unclear. Known risks include radiation exposure and certain chemical exposure.

Hard to say...: Many times we don't know what causes leukemia, irrespective of type. The process is probably multifactorial and has a strong genetic component. In a small subset of cases exposure to various toxins like paint fumes, or to radiation, can also cause it, but this represents only a small percentage of patients.