The clinical features and outcomes of 148 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 11q23 chromosomal abnormalities were compared with those of 2640 patients with non-11q23 AML. Patients with t(9;11)), t(6;11), or other 11q23 balanced translocations [t(11;v)(q23;v)] presented at a younger age and with higher percentage of bone marrow blasts. Unbalanced 11q23 abnormalities were commonly associated with deletions of chromosomes 5q, 7q and/or complex karyotypes. In multivariate analysis, when compared to patients with non-11q23 AML and unfavorable risk karyotype, there was a significant difference in overall survival (OS) for patients with t(9;11) (P = .004), whereas there were no difference in OS for patients with t(6;11) (P = .62), t(11;19) (P = 0.20), and unbalanced 11q23 aberrations (P = .85) or t(11;v)(q23;v) (P = 0.59), indicating that t(9;11) has an independent intermediate prognostic factor, with all others poor prognostic factors for OS; this was further confirmed by comparing them with patients with non-11q23 AML and intermediate risk karyotype. Using intention-to treat analysis based on donor availability, we also noted that allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) in first remission had a significant benefit towards improving OS (P < 0.001) and relapse-free survival (P<0.001) in patients with AML and 11q23 abnormalities.