Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Question 1

What is AML?

Answer 1

Acute myeloid leukaemia

Proliferation of immature myeloid cells

Question 2

What are the risk factors for AML?

Answer 2

Age (older)
Myelodysplasia
Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy

Question 3

What is myelodysplasia?

Answer 3

Neoplastic proliferation of immature myeloid cells with evidence of dysplasia

Pre-cursor to AML

Question 4

How many subtypes of AML are there?

Answer 4

9

Question 5

What are the main subtypes of AML?

Answer 5

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia

Acute monocytic leukaemia

Question 6

What gene translocation is associated with acute promyelocytic leukaemia?

Answer 6

t(15;17)

Question 7

What are features of AML?

Answer 7

Anaemia
Gum hyperplasia
DIC

Question 8

What investigations are done for suspected AML?

Answer 8

FBC
Blood film
Bone marrow biopsy

Question 9

What does FBC show in AML?

Answer 9

Leucocytosis
Thrombocytopaenia
Anaemia

Question 10

What does the blood film show in AML?

Answer 10

Auer rods

Blast cells

Question 11

What are Auer rods?

Answer 11

Aggregates of myeloperoxidase

Question 12

What does the bone marrow biopsy show in AML?

Answer 12

> /= 20% myeloblasts

Question 13

How is AML managed?

Answer 13

Chemotherapy