26. Leukemias Flashcards
What is leukemia
malignancy of white cells in bone marrow with an excess of blasts
white cells: myeloid or lymphocytes
-acute or chronic
Symptoms and signs of leukemia
- reduced RBC, WBC and platelets
- hyperleukocytosis -> leukostasis -> blood supply of organs blocked -> organ failure
- may or may not have bone pain and lymphadenopathy
What is the end product of differentiation of myeloid and lymphoid stem cells
myeloid
- basophil
- eosinophil
- neutrophil
- monocyte
- platelets
- erythrocyte
lymphoid
-lymphocyte
Benign WBC disorder
- reactive increase in number - ‘philias’/-‘osis’
- neutrophilia - bacterial sepsis
- lymphocytosis - viral, immune
- eosinophilia - allergy, parasites - decrease in number - ‘penias’
- neutropenia, lymphopenia, eosinopenia, pancytopenia
- casued by drugs, viral infections, radiation, chemotherapy
WBC neoplastic disorder
- leukemia (malignant)
- increased number of blast cells in bone marrow and blood
- acute/chronic and myeloid/lymphoid - lymphoma (malignant)
- nodal/extranodal
- Hodgkins/non-Hodgkins (myeloma) - myeloproliferative syndrome (benign)
- myelodysplastic syndrome (benign)
Example of acute leukemia
- acute myeloblastic leukemia
- acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Example of chronic leukemia
- chronic myeloid leukemia
- chronic lymphocytic leukemia
General clinical features of leukaemia
- bone marrow replacement by blast cells with marrow failure
- anaemia (low RBC)
- fever - infection (low WBC)
- bleeding tendency (low platelets) - hyperviscosity - excess cells
- tender bones
- lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly
- leukaemic infiltration
Where does acute myeloblastic leukemia arises from
malignant transformation of a myeloid precursor
- most frequent leukemia in neonate
- incidence increases with age
Clinical features of acute myeloid leukemia
-gum hypertrophy
-hepatosplenomegaly (less common)
-skin deposit
-lymphadenopathy
-renal damage
-disseminated intravascular coagulation
AML + DIC -> intracranial haemorrhage
Clinical presentation of gum hypertrophy due to acute myeloid leukemia
- infiltration of gums by leukaemic cells
- bruises in top of mouth, tongue means that same goes in gut and brain
Where does acute lymphoblastic leukemia arises from
- most common malignant disease in children
- incidence decrease with age, with a second rise after 40 years
Signs of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
- lymphadenopathy (mediastinal, cervical)
- hepatosplenomegaly
- bone pain (present very late)
- mediastinal mass
- testicular swelling
Lab investigation of acute leukemia
- FBC
- bone marrow aspirate and trephine
- immunophenotyping (flow cytometry)
- to determine type of cell - molecular analysis
a) Normal WBC count
b) acute leukaemia WBC count
a) 4.3 - 10.8 x 10^9/L
b) <1.0 x 10^9/L to 200 x 10^9/L