Blood Cancers Flashcards
How are Acute Leukaemias defined?
Neoplastic Conditions with rapid onset
Characterised by the presence of immature ‘blast’ cells in the blood and bone marrow.
Causes Bone Marrow Failure
How do Acute Leukaemias present?
Anaemia - Fatigue, Pallor, Breathlessness
Neutropenia - Recurrent Infections
Thrombocytopenia - Bleeding and easy bruising
What is Acute Myeloid Leukaemia?
Accumulation of Myeloblast cells
How is Acute Myeloid Leukaemia diagnosed?
Features of bone marrow failure
‘Auer Rods on Blood film’
What is Promyelocytic Leukaemia?
Subtype of AML
Very Aggressive
t(15;17)
DIC association
What is Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia?
Uncontrolled proliferation of lymphoblasts
3/4 B Cell ALL
How does ALL present?
Common in children (Under 6)
Bone Marrow Failure symptoms
Organ Infiltration - hepatosplenomegaly, enlarged lymph nodes, swollen testes.
T-Cell ALL can lead to stridor, wheeze and Superior Vena Cava obstruction.
How is ALL investigated?
Increased WCC
Anaemia and Thrombocytopenia
>20% Lymphoblasts on a blood film
What is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia?
Accumulation of mature incompetent lymphocytes, which are unable to apoptose.
How does CLL present?
Asymptomatic in half of cases.
Symptoms of Bone Marrow Failure in other 50%
Associated with Autoimmune thrombocytopaenia + Anaemia (Evan’s Syndrome)
How would you investigate a possible case of CLL?
Increased Lymphocytes
Anaemia, Neutropenia, Thrombocytopenia
Smudge/Smear cells on blood film (Fragile lymphocytes).
What is Chronic Myeloid Leaukaemia?
Uncontrolled proliferation of granulocyte precursors in Bone Marrow.
Slower progression than in AML.
How does CML present?
50% Asymptomatic
FLAWS
BM Failure Symptoms
Hyperviscosity Symptoms (Visual Disturbance, headaches, thromobtic events)
Gout
Massive Splenomegaly
What causes CML?
Philadelphia Chromosome is associated.
t(9,22)
Froms BCR-ABL gene, coding for a constitutively active TK receptor.
This leads to continuous cell proliferation.
How would you investigate a possible case of CML?
WCC >100x109
Philadelphia Chromosome identified during Cytogenetics.
No excess blasts in Chronic stage
Can transform into Acute phase due to hyperproliferation of blast cells.