Blood Cancers Flashcards
Which white blood cells come from the common myeloid progenitor?
Basophil
Neutrophil
Eosinophil
Monocyte/macrophage
Which white blood cells come from the common lymphoid progenitor?
Natural killer cells
T cell
B cell/plasma cell
What protein is present in the urine of patients with myeloma?
Bence-Jones
What investigation is carried out to find the bence-jones protein?
Urine protein electrophoresis
What would a patient with myeloma present with?
Bone pain - typically back ache
What is the treatment for myeloma?
Incurable, relapsing/remitting disease
transplant and thalidomide
transplant candidates - thalidomide and dexamethosone
non-transplant candidates -
supportive care
What is myeloma normally associated with?
osteolytic bone disease
anaemia
renal failure
hypercalcaemia
What investigation is used to confirm multiple myeloma? (after bench-jones has been found)
skeletal survey
Simply, what is the problem caused by leukaemia?
Too many white blood cells, not enough red blood cells
so can’t fight infection
What are the symptoms of acute lymphocytic leukaemia?
easy bruising fatigue dyspnoea dizziness bleeding recurrent infections
What is ALL characterised by?
early precursor cells replacing haematopoietic cells of the bone marrow and further infiltrating other body organs
What are the key diagnostic features of ALL?
presence of risk factors
lymphadenopathy
hepatosplenomegaly
pallor, ecchymoses, or petechiae
What are the risk factors of ALL?
<6 years old - most common blood cancer in kids
mid to late 30s
mid 80s
What is the diagnostic approach for ALL?
bone marrow biopsy/peripheral blood smear - hypercellularity and infiltration by leukaemic lymphoblasts (at least 20% for definitive diagnosis)
other tests: FBC with differential peripheral blood smear serum electrolytes LFT U&E coagulation profile
What is the treatment of ALL?
combination chemotherapy - prednisone - vincristine - anthracyclines etc.
stem cell transplant