Acute and Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL and CLL) Flashcards
What does ALL stand for?
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
What is ALL?
Neoplastic lymphoblast proliferation.
Decreased production of RBCs, WBCs and platelets.
Most common type of leukaemia in children.
What % of cases of ALL are childhood (under 7 y/o) malignancies?
75%
ALL mostly affects which cell lineage?
B cell
What chromosome is translocated in ALL?
t(12:21)
Has a good prognosis
What other condition increases the risk of ALL by 30 times?
Down’s
What other factor increases the risk of ALL other than Down’s?
Radiation
What group of ALL patients won’t show general leukaemia symptoms?
6 year olds with Down’s
Other than general leukaemia symptoms, what is present with ALL?
Hepatosplenomegaly
How would you diagnose ALL?
FBC:
pancytopenia
Blood film:
Increased lymphoblasts
Bone marrow biopsy:
At least 20% lymphoblast
Immunofluorescence:
TdT positive lymphoblast
What is treatment for ALL?
Chemotherapy
Consider allopurinol
What does CLL stand for?
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia
What is CLL?
Neoplastic proliferation of lymphocytes, mostly B cells.
True or false: CLL is the most rare leukaemia overall
False
It is the most common
75% of CLL patients have a _ year survival
5
Does CLL mainly affect children or adults or older adults?
older adults (70 y/o)
What are symptoms of CLL?
General anaemia
Lymphadenopathy (non-tender lymph node swelling)
Hepatosplenomegaly
How do you diagnose CLL?
FBC:
Pancytopenia (except lymphocytes)
Blood film:
Smudge cells (ruptured CLL cells)
Immunoglobulins:
Hypogammaglobulinemia (low levels of IGs in blood)
Why is there hypogammaglobulinemia with CLL?
Many B lymphocytes but don’t function properly/ mature to plasma cells in CLL so don’t fewer immunoglobulins produced
What is treatment for CLL?
Chemotherapy
Consider allopurinol
Perhaps palliative if old
IV Immunoglobulins for hypogammaglobulinemia
What is a complication of CLL?
Richter transformation.
B cell massively accumulates in lymph nodes leading to massive lymphadenopathy.
Can transform into an aggressive lymphoma.
