Cancer and Bleeding Disorders Flashcards
Which cells are granulocytes (3)
Basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils
Which cells are myeloid cells (5)
Granulocytes (basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils) platelets and RBC
What triad do acute leukaemias cause
Anaemia (↓ Hb): fatigue, pallor, breathlessness
Neutropenia (↓ neutrophils): recurrent infections
Thrombocytopenia (↓ platelets): bleeding and easy bruising
What are the effects of bone marrow failure
Anaemia (↓ Hb): fatigue, pallor, breathlessness
Neutropenia (↓ neutrophils): recurrent infections
Thrombocytopenia (↓ platelets): bleeding and easy bruising
RF AML (4)
Down’s, irradiation, anti-cancer drugs, age (incidence ↑ with age)
Which disease shows Auer rods on a blood film
AML
What is seen on blood film in AML (2)
Auer rods and accumulation of myeloblast cells
What is promyelocytic leukaemia a subtype of
Subtype of AML
What is promyelocytic leukaemia associated with
DIC
What is the most common type of ALL
¾ are B cell ALL
Which cells are particularly deficient in AML
Granulocytes (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils)
Which cells are particularly deficient in ALL (4)
B lymphocytes (and plasma cells), T lymphocytes and NK cells but most ALL’s are B lymphocyte form
Which is the commonest cancer of childhood
ALL
What does ALL present with
Bone marrow failure symptoms
Organ infiltration:
hepatosplenomegaly, enlarged lymph notes, swollen testes
When does ALL present with a thymus mass
T cell ALL
What are the blood results of ALL (3)
↑↑ WCC, ↓ Hb, ↓ plts
What is seen in the BM film of ALL
BM film: >20% lymphoblasts
What accumulates in CLL
Accumulation of mature incompetent lymphocytes (unable to undergo apoptosis)
What happens in the bone marrow of CLL patients
BM becomes infiltrated by small, nomoformic B cells, meaning patients will start to develop symptoms and signs of BM failure
Symptoms of CLL
Symptoms of BM failure: recurrent infections (including herpes zoster), sx of anaemia, easy bruising/bleeding
Examination of CLL (2)
O/E: enlarged non-tender lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly
Blood results of CLL (4)
Bloods: ↑ lymphocytes, ↓ Hb, ↓ neutrophils, ↓ platelets
Blood film of CLL
smear/smudge cells
In which disease is smear/smudge cells seen in
CLL
Associations of CLL
AI thrombocytopenia and anaemia (Evan’s syndrome)
What is Evan’s syndrome
AI thrombocytopenia and anaemia
What can CLL become
aggressive NHL = Richter’s syndrome
What happens in CML
Uncontrolled proliferation of granulocyte precursors in BM but slower progression than AML
Symptoms of CML (think about the ways it manifests (3))
Up to 50% are asymptomatic
Hypermetabolic symptoms: weight loss, malaise, sweating
Hyperviscosity symptoms: visual disturbance, headaches, thrombotic event
Gout
Same triad: anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia
MASSIVE splenomegaly in 90%
Which cancer is the Philadelphia chromosome associated with
CML
Do you see splenomegaly in acute leukaemias and why
Splenomegaly does not have time to form in acute leukaemias
What is seen in the FBC of CML
↑↑ WCC (often >100 x109)