Cancer care Flashcards
What is the assessment for breast cancer
Triple assessment: clinical exam, USS/mammo, histology/cytology - FNA/core biopsy
USS or mammo for breast cancer
USS if <35, both if >35
What is sentinel node biopsy
Blue dye or radiocolloid into tumour area, probe/see sentinel node, biopsy and send for histology/immunohistochemistry
Predicting prognosis for breast cancer
Nottingham prognostic index = size + histological grade + nodal status
Also ER/PR status and vascular invasion
What is pre menstrual breast change
Nodularity and pain in upper outer quadrant with fibrosis, adenosis, cysts, epitheliosis, papillomatosis = benign mammary dysplasia
When are breast cysts common
Perimenopause
Common benign breast lumps
Fibroadenoma - collagenous mesenchyme, firm, smooth, mobile, multiple. Regress, stay same or get bigger (1/3 each)
Fibroadenosis - focal or diffuse nodularity
Infective mastitis?
Usually staph a, coamox/Flucloxacillin /incise, drain
Physiological nipple discharge/?
Duct ectasia - dilatation with age = green, brown, bloody discharge
Fat necrosis in breast?
Fibrosis and calcification after trauma = mass
Nodal status for breast cancer
1 = ipsilateral and mobile, 2 = fixed
Premalignant breast diseases?
Non invasive dcis = microcalcification on mammo, unifocal or widespread, 30-50% progress
Non invasive lcis = multifocal, rarer, higher risk of progression
Most common breast cancers
Invasive ductal carcinoma (70%)
Invasive lobular carcinoma
Medullary - younger patients
RF for breast cancer
FHx, age, uninterrupted oestrogen exposure - nulliparity, first pregnancy >30y/o, early menarche and late meno Not breast feeding HRT Obesity BRCA
Stages of breast cancer
1 = confined to breast and mobile 2 = + node in ipsilateralaxilla 3 = fixed to muscle but not chest wall, ipsilateral axilla node matted and may be fixed, skin involvement 4 = fixed to chest wall, distant mets
TNM for breast
T: 1 = <2, 2 = 3-5, 3= >5, 4 = fixed to chest wall or peau d’orange
N: 1 = mobile ipsilateral, 2 = fixed
Treat stage 1-2 breast cancer
Surgery - wide local excision or mastectomy axillary node sample/clearance
Radiotherapy - prevent local recurrence after surgery, and nodes if positive and not completely cleared
Chemo - improve survival esp if young and node pos, or neoadjuvant
Endocrine therapy
Types of hormone therapy for breast cancer
Tamoxifen oestrogen blocker
Aromatase inhibitor targets oestrogen synthesis, better tolerated, for post-meno
GnRH analogues or ovarian ablation if pre-meno and ER pos
ADRs of radiotherapy for breast
Pneumonitis, pericarditis
Rib fractures
Lymphoedema
Brachial plexopathy
Treat stage 3-4 breast cancer
Bisphosphonates for painful bony lesions to decrease pain and fracture risk
Tamoxifen, chemo
Investigations for stage 3-4 breast cancer
LFT, calcium, cxr, skeletal survey, bone scan, CT/MRI or PET/CT, liver us
Causes of nipple discharge
Intraductal papilloma - bloody or clear
Duct ectasia - yellow/green
RF for colorectal cancer
Neoplastic polyps UC, Crohn’s FAP HNPCC Low fibre diet Previous cancer Smoking Genetics
Sx of colorectal cancer
Left = bleeding/mucus, altered bowel habit, tenesmus, mass Right = weigh loss, Hb low, abdo pain Both = abdo mass, perforation, haemorrhage, fistula
Use of CEA in colorectal cancer
Monitor disease and effectiveness of treatment
Tests for colorectal cancer
FBC - microcytic anaemia Faecal occult blood Sigmoidoscopy Barium enema or colonoscopy / CT DNA if familial polyposis once >15y
What is anterior resection for
Low sigmoid or high rectum tumour - anastamosis
What is APR and what is it for
Low rectal tumour (=<8cm from anus), permanent colostomy and remove anus and rectum
What is hartmann’’s procedure
Emergency obstruction or palliation
Proctosigmoidectomy and close rectal stump
Colorectal Surgery if not fit?
Transanal endoscopic microsurgery for local excision through wide proctoscope
endoscopic stenting
Chemo in colorectal cancer?
Reduce mortality for Duke C
Palliation for mets
Sx of anastomotic leak after colectomy
Raised temperature
Abdo pain
Peritonism
What are polyps and what 3 types are in GIT?
Lumps above the mucosa
Inflammatory - IBD, lymphoid hyperplasia
Hamartomatous - juvenile, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Neoplastic - adenomas with malignant potential
Sx of polyps in GIT
Blood/mucus
Most common site of colorectal carcinomas
Rectum = 45%, sigmoid = 25%
Duke’’s classification
Stage A - beneath muscularis mucosa
B - through muscularis mucosa
C - regional lymph nodes
D - distant mets
Potential screening programs for colorectal cancer and flaws
Now = FOB home test every 2y from 60-69y, but high false pos
Sigmoidoscopy for left sided, high sens and spec but expensive and not accepted
Colonoscopy - perforation rate higher than sigmoidoscopy, cost, sedation, not accepted
Chemo for colorectal cancer?
Adjuvant, including biologics for VEGF/EGFR
Who gets regular colonoscopy?
HNPCC, FAP
Stomach cancer pathology
Mostly adenocarcinoma - diffuse (more common, worseprognosis) or intestinal (better prognosis) Borrmann classification: 1) polypoid/fungating 2) excavating 3) ulceration and raised 4) linitis plastica
Symptoms of stomach cancer
Non-specific Dyspepsia (inv if >1m and >50y) Weight loss, anorexia, early satiety, vomiting Dysphagia and odynophagia if junctional Anaemia
bad signs on exam for stomach cancer
Epigastric mass Hepatomegaly, jaundice, ascites Virchow node = Troisier’s sign Acanthosis nigricans Succussion splash (outlet obstruction)
What is Krukenberg tumour
Stomach tumour spread to ovary
Imaging gastric cancer
Gastroscopy and multiple ulcer edge biopsy
Endoscopic US
CT/MRI for staging
Staging laparoscopy if locally advanced and no mets
Treat gastric cancer
Curative laparotomy
Subtotal gastrectomy
Lymphadenectomy
Neoadjuvant CRT
Endoscopic laser to decrease bleeding
Combination chemo if advanced - for QoL and survival
Endoscopic mucosal resection for early tumours confined to mucosa
5y survival for gastric cancer
<10%
Risk factors for oesophageal cancer
Obesity Smoking Alcohol, radiotherapy, caustic = SCC Achalasia Reflux oesophagitis +- Barrett’s oesophagus, hiatus hernia, antacids = adeno Man (5x woman)
Where and type of oesophageal cancer
50% middle, 30% bottom, 20% upper
2/3 Squamous 1/3 adeno
Sx of oesophageal cancer
Dysphagia, weight loss, retrosternal chest pain, lymphadenopathy
Hoarse, cough (paroxysmal if aspiration pneumonia) if upper
Tests for oesophageal cancer
Barium swallow CXR Oesophagoscopy with biopsy/EUS CT/MRI Staing laparoscopy if infra-diaphragmatic
staging for oesophageal cancer
TNM T1 = lamina propria/submucosa T2 = muscularis propria T3 = adventitia T4 = adjacent structures N1 = regional node mets M1 = distant mets
Treatment for oesophageal cancer
Radical oesophagectomy if localised T1/2 = transhiatal or transthoracic
Neoadjuvant chemo
CRT if no surgery
Palliative = CRT, stent, laser
Causes of oesophageal rupture
Iatrogenic Trauma Carcinoma Boerhaave syndrome corrosive ingestion
Sx of oesophageal rupture
Odynophagia Tachypnoea, dyspnoea Fever Shock Surgical emphysema
Manage oesophageal rupture
NGT, Abx, PPI
Antifungals, surgery, oesogo-cutanesous fistula
When to order urgent endoscopy for stomach cancer
> 55 with dyspepsia
<55 with dyspepsia and one of: weight loss, anorexia, vomit, dysphagia, sx of bleeding
Causes of lung nodules on cxr
Malignancy Abscess Granuloma Carcinoid tumour Pulmonary hamartoma AV malformation Encysted effusion Cyst Foreign body Skin tumour
Common types of lung tumour
Squamous 35%
Adenocarcinoma 25%
Small cell 20%
Large cell 10%
Signs and symptoms of lung cancer
Cough, haemoptysis, dyspnoea, chest pain, slow resolving pneumonia
Cachexia, anaemia, clubbing (nsclc), hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy = wrist pain, supraclavicular or axillary nodes
Chest - consolidation, collapse, pleural effusion
Signs of mets from lung cancer
Bone tenderness
Hepatometaly
Confusion, fits, focal CNS signs, cerebellar syndrome
Proximal myopathy, peripheral neuropathy, Lambert Eaton myasthenic syndrome
Local complications of lung cancer
Local - recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, phrenic nerve palsy, SVC obstruction, Horner’s syndrome (pancoast), rib erosion, pericarditis, AF
Metastatic complicatiotns fo lung cancer
Brain
Bone - pain, anaemia, raised calcium by squamous tumours
Liver
Adrenals - Addison’s
Endocrine complicatiotns fo lunc cancer
Small cell. = SIADH (low sodium high ADH), ACTH (cushings’)
Squamous = PTH (high calcium)
Tests for lung cancer
Sputum and pleural fluid cytology
CXR - nodule, hilar enlargement, consolidatoin, collapse, effusion, bony secondaries
Percutaneous FNA or biopsy if peripheral/superficial
Bronchoscopy for histology and operability
CT for staging
Treatment for lung cancer
Non small cell - excision if peripheral and no spread (stage 1-2)
- Curative RT if resp reserve poor
- CRT if advanced
Small cell nearly always disseminated but may respond to chemo +-RT
Palliation for lung cancer
RT for obstruction, SVC, haemoptysis, bone pain, cerebral mets
SVC obstruction - stent, RT, dexamethasone
Tracheal stent
Pleural drainage for effusions
Prognosis of lung cancer
Non small cell = 50% 2y
Small cell - 3m median survival if untreated
Staging for lung cancer
T1 <3cm in lobar or distal
T2 >3cm and >2cm distal to carina or any size + pleural involvement or obstructive pneumonitis
T3 involves chest wall, diaphragm, mediastinal pleura, pericardium
T4 involves mediastinum, heart, great vessels, trachea, oesophagus, vertebral body or malignant effusion
N1 - peribronchial or ipsilateral hilum
N2 - ipsilateral mediastinum or subcarinal
N3 - contralateral mediastinum or hilum or supraclavicular
Features of different lung cancers
Scc - bronchiobstruction causes infection - cavitation on cxr, slow grow, local spread
Adenocarcinoma - peripheral, scar tissue, bronchial mucous glands, effusion from mets to mediastinal node and pleura
Large cell - neurosecretory, poorly differentiated, grown and met early
Small cell - central, present with systemic disease, neurosecretory granules
Complications of surgery and CRT for oesophageal cancer
Surgery = anatamotic leak, stricture, reflux, motility problems CRT = perforation, stricture, pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis
Most common renal cancer
Renal cell carcinoma= 90% - proximal renal tubular epithelium
Sx of renal cell carcinoma
50% incidental finding
Haematuria, loin pain, abdo mass, anorexia, malaise, weight loss, PUO
Varicocoele from invasion of left renal vein obstruction
Initial test findings for renal cell carcinoma
BP high from renin secretion
FBC - polycythaemia from epo
ALP - high if bony mets
Urine for RBC and cytology
Imaging for renal cell carcinoma
US CT/MRI IV urogram Renal angiography CXR - cannonball mets
Treatment for renal cell carcinoma
Radical nephrectomy
Angiogenesis inhibitors
Staging for renal cell carcinoma
Robson: 1 - in kidney 2 - perinephric fat 3 - renal vein 4 - adjacent/distant organs
Where is transitional cell carcinoma
Bladder, ureter, renal pelvis
Sx of transitional cell carcinoma
Painless haematuria, frequency, urgency, dysuria, urinary tract obstruction
Investigate transitional cell carcinoma
Urine cytology
IV urogram
Cystoscopy and biopsy
CT/MRI
Main abdominal malignancy in children and sx
Nephroblastoma - Wilm’s tumour
Abdo mass and haematuria
Where and histology of prostate cancer
Adenocarcinoma in peripheral prostate
Where does prostate cancer spread
Seminal vesicles, bladder, rectum
Haematoenous to bone
Sx of prostate cancer
Nocturia, hesitancy, poor stream, terminal dribble, obstruction
Weight loss and bone pain = mets
Inv for prostate cancer
DRE PSA Transrectal USS and biopsy Bone X-ray, bone scan CT/MRI for staging
Treat prostate cancer
Local - radical prostatectomy or radiotherapy and hormonal therapy
Mets - hormonal drugs, GnRH analogues - stimulate then inhibit pituitary gonadotropin
Adjuncts - analgesia, treat hypercalcaemia, radiotherapy for bone mets/spinal cord compression
Prognostic factors in prostate cancer
Age
Pre treatment PSA level
Tumour stage
Tumour Gleason grade
How is Gleason grade calculated and what does it mean for treatment
Histology from 2 areas and add them, 2-10. High score = aggressive treatment
Pros and cons of PSA for asymptomatic. Men
May not die from it
False positive leads to invasive investigation
1/3 with high psa actually have cancer
Unnecessary treatment with ADRs
Risk factors for prostate cancer
Age - 80% of >80s
High testosterone
Family history
Risk and preventative factors for penile cancer
Very rare if circumcised
Chronic irritation, viruses, smema
Presentation of penile cancer
Fungating ulcer, bloody/purulent discharge
50% spread to lymph at presentation
What is balanitis
Balanitis - staph and strep in foreskin and glans
Common in diabetes, children with tight foreskin
Treat with abx, circumcision and hygiene advice
What is phimosis
Foreskin occludes meatus causing recurrent balanitis and ballooning
Cause painful sex, infection, ulceration and balanitis xerotica obliterans in adults
What is paraphimosis
Tight foreskin retracted and irreplaceable, including after catheterisation, preventing venous return so oedema and ischaemia of glans
Treat by squeezing glans, may need dextrose swab, aspiration, circumcision
What is prostatitis
Acute or chronic, >35y
S faecalis and E. coli
UTI, retention, pain, haematospermia, swollen/boggy prostate
Treat with analgesia and levofloxacin for 28d
Grading bladder tumours
Grade 1 = differentiated
2 = intermediate
3 = poorly differentiated
Common bladder cancers
Transitional cell
Rare = adenocarcinoma and scc
Risk factor for bladder cancer
Male (x4) Schistosomiasis = scc Smoking Aromatic amines - rubber industry Chronic cystitis Pelvic irradiation
Presentation of bladder cancer
Painless haematuria, recurrent UTI, voiding irritability
Tests for bladder cancer
Urine - microscopy and cytology - sterile pyuria
IVU - filling defect, ureteric involvement
Cystoscopy and biopsy = diagnostic
Bimanual EUA for spread
CT/MRI or lymphangiography for pelvic nodes
Staging bladder cancer
Tis = in situ Ta = epithelium T1 = lamina propria T2 = superficial muscle = rubbery thickening on EUA T3 = deep muscle = mobile mass on EUA T4 = beyond bladder = fixed mass on EUA
Treat bladder tcc
Tis, Ta, T1 = watch and wait, or TURBT - diathermy via transurethral cystoscopy. + intravesicular chemo or BCG (non specific inflammatory response) if high grade or many small
T2-3 = radical cystectomy +- adjuvant chemo
T4 = palliative CRT + catheterisation and diversions for pain
Follow up for bladder tcc
Regular cystoscopy - every 3m for 2y then every 6m if high risk
After 9m then yearly if low risk
Spread of bladder tcc
Local - pelvic
Lymphatic - iliac and paraaortic nodes
Haematogenous - liver and lung
Prognosis if node involvement of bladder tcc
6% if unilateral at 5y
0% if bilateral or para aortic
Complications of bladder tcc treatment
Sexual and urinary malfunction if cystectomy
Massive bladder haemorrhage
Ileal conduit - urine toxic to skin, ureters may stenose
Cause of raised PSA
Big prostate Infection uti Inflammation - catheter BPH cancer prostate
Bone scan findings with CaP
Sclerotic lesions, other cancers normally lytic
ADR of radical prostatetomy
Erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejactulation, urinary damage - incontinence
ADR of radiotherapy and different types of RT for prostate cancer
External beam or low does brachytherapy
Causes bowel symptoms ie diarrhoea
Hormonal treatment for CaP
Castration - surgical orchidectomy or medical LHRH agonist - neg feedback so suppresses T production from leydig cells. Cover with antiandrogen for first month to prevent LH surge causing growth of spinal mets
Screening issues with PSA
Lead time bias and length time bias
Origin of most bladder cancers
Papillomata, 80% confined to mucosa
Causes of pancytopoenia
Increaed peripheral destruction - hypersplenism
Decreased marrow production - aplastic anaemia, megaloblastic anaemia, myelofibrosis, marrow infiltration
Types of marrow infiltration causing pancytopoenia
Neoplasm - myeloma, lymphoma, acute leukaemia, solid tumours
TB, myelodysplasia
Causes of aplastic anaemia
AI - drugs, viruses (hepatitis, parvo), irradiation
Inherited - Fanconi anaemia
Treat aplastic anaemia
Asymptomatic - supportive
Immunosuppression
Curative - allogenic marrow transplant from HLA matched sibling
Support blood count with RBC, platelets and WBC
What is agranulocytosis
No production of wBC with granules: BEN (Basophils, Eosinophils, Neuttrophils)
What to safety net for agranulocytosis
Sore throat or fever
Treat agraanulocytosis
G-CSF
Neutropoenia regimen
Abx and cotrimoxaxole for PCP
ADR cotrimoxazole
Rash
What is neutropoenia regimen
If neutrophils <0.5x10^9/l Barrier nursing No IM injections or DRE Chlorhexidine on moist skin Oral hygiene Swab infection sites - mouth, axilla, perineum, IVI Culture blood x3, sputum, urine, stool if diarrhoea FBC, Plt, inr, U&E, ,LFT CXR
When to irradiate platelets
Immunosuppression or marrow transplant to prevent graft vs host
When to give platelets
If <10x10^9/l
Haemorrhage
Before procedure if <50x10^9/l
Survival of different blood products
RBC 120d
Platelets 7d
WBC 1-2c
How to do bone marrow biopspy
Posterior iliac crest Aspirate to film for microscopy Trephine bone core for cellularity, architecture and infiltration (neoplasm) Cytogenetics Flow cytometry
What is amyloidosis
Extracellular deposits of protein with abnormal fibrilar form, resistant to degradation
3 causes of amyloidosis
Plasma cell clonal proliferation - myeloma, lymphoma, MGUS, Waldenstrom’s
Serum amyloid A (acute phase protein) in chronic inflammation - RA, IBD, chronic infection (TB, bronchiectasis)
Familial amyloidosis - autosomal dominant
Sx of plasma cell proliferation causing amyloidosis
Kidneys - proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome
Heart - restrictive cardiomyopathy, angina, arrhythmia
GI - macroglossia, malabsorption, obstruction, hepatomegaly
Neuro - peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, carpal tunnel
Vascular - periorbital purpura
Sx of serum amyloid A from chronic inflammation
Kidneys. - nephrotic syndrome
Hepatomegaly
Sx of familial amyloidosis
Sensory/autonomic neuropathy
Renal/cardiac involvement
Treat familial amyloidosis
Liver transplant
Diagnosis of amyloidosis
Biopsy of rectum or sc fat as non invasive
What affects plasma viscosity
Concentration of large plasma proteins, chronic inflammation >24h - not acute:
RBC raised in polycythaemia rubra vera
WBC raised in leukaemia
Plasma components raised in myeloma and Waldenstrom’ss Macroglobulinaemia (IgM)
Treat raised plasma components
Plasmapheresis - remove plasma and discard, return RBC in more suitable medium
Sx of increased plasma viscosity
Decreased vision
Amaurosis fugax
Retinopathy - haemorrhage, exudates, blurred disc
CNS - disturbance, reduced cognition, falls
Chest and abdo pain
Spontaneous GI/Gu bleeding
What is ESR
How far RBC fall through anticoagulated blood column in 1h
What changes ESR
Proteins as make RBC stick together
- inflammation from infection, malignancy, rheumatoid arthritis, MI; anaemia; macrocytosis
Investigate raised ESR
History and exam FBC, U&E PSA Plasma electrophoresis CXR, AXR (AAA) Marrow or temporal artery biopsy
Calculate ESR
Male = age/2 Female = age+10 /2
Associations with ALL
Genetic susceptibility
Environmental ie radiation in pregnancy
Down’s syndrome
Ways of classifying ALL
Morphological - FAB
Cytogenetic - chromosomal abnormalities
Immunological - precursor B, B or T
Sx of ALL
Marrow failure - anaemia, infection, bleeding
Organ infiltration - hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy including parotid and mediastinal, orchidomegaly, CNS - cranial nerve palsy, meningism
Common infections in ALL
Chest, mouth, perianal, skin Bacterial septicaemia cmv, zoster, measles pneumocystis pneumoniae candidiasis
Investigations for ALL
Blast cells characteristic on film
CXR for mediastinal and abdominal lymphadenopathy
LP for CNS involvement
Treatment for ALL
Educate and motivate
Support - blood/platelet transfusion, IV fluids, allopurinol for tumour lysis prophylaxis, Hickman line
Chemotherapy - trials of remission/consolidation/CNS prophylaxis/maintenance ie monoclonal antibodies, cytokines, T cell infusions
Neutropoenia - abx, antifungals, antivirals
Matched related allogenic marrow transplant
Prognosis of ALL and bad prognostic signs
70-90% in children, 40% in adults Bad factors: Adult, male Philadelphia chromosome CNS signs on presentation Low haemoglobin WCC >100 B cell ALL
What gene is related to ALL
Philadelphia chromosome - BCR-ABL gene fusion from translocation of chromosomes 9 and 22
How common is AML, what’s the prognosis and what is it associated with
Most common leukaemia of adults, 2m prognosis if untreated
RF: Chemo for lymphoma, myelodysplasia, radiation, syndromes ie downs
Classification of AML
WHO classification
Sx of AML
Marrow failure - anaemia, infection, bleeding
DIC in some
Hepatosplenomegaly, gum hypertrophy, skin involvement
Inv AML
WCC may be high, normal or low Marrow biopsy Microscopy = Auer rods Immunophenotyping Cytogenetic analysis guides treatment
Complications of AML
Infection
Fever without infection
Tumour lysis causing plasma urate levels to rise
Leukostasis
Treatment of AML
Supportive
Chemo causing marrow suppression
Bone marrow transplant - pluripotent haematopoetic stem cells, using ciclosporin and methotrexate to prevent graft vs host
Complication of AML treatment
Graft vs host disease Leukaemia Opportunistic infections Infertility Relapse
What are myelodysplastic syndromes
MDS, myelodysplasia
Marrow failure
Most Primary, or secondary to CRT. 30% become acute leukaemia
Tests for myelodysplastic syndromes
Pancytopoenia, reduced reticulocytes
Marrow cellularity increased due to ineffective haematopoeisis
Ring sideroblasts in marrow
Treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes
Multiple RBC and platelet transfusions
Epo and G-CSF lowers transfusion requiremen
Immunosuppressants ie cyclosporin
Curative allogenic stem cell transplant - only if younger
Thalidomide analogues
When is CML mostly found
40-60y, slight male predominance
Chromosome associated with CML and what does it mean
Philadelphia chromosome in 80%, has tyrosine kinase activity
Without ph have worse prognosis
Sx of CML
Insidious - weight loss, tired, fever, sweats
Gout from purine breakdown
Bleeding
Abdo discomfort - splenic enlargment
Massive splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, anaemia, bruising
Inv CML
WBC >100 with whole spectrum of myeloid cells - myelocytes, neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils Hb low or normal urate and b12 high Marrow - hypercellular Ph on blood or marrow cytogenetics
Stages of CML
Chronic - months/years with few sx
Accelerated - Increasing symptoms, spleen size and counts
Blast transformation - features of acute leukaemia and death
Treatment for CML and side effects
Imatinib - BCL/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor
SE = nausea, cramps, oedema, rash, headache, arthralgia, myelosuppressiosn
+- a interferon
Stem cell transplant but high mortality and morbidity
What is CLL
Accumulation of mature B cells that have undergone cell cycle arrest in G0/1 phase
Commonest leukaemia?
CLL
What can trigger CLL
Pneumonia
Sx of CLL
Often incidentally found on FBC Anaemia/infections Weight loss, sweats, anorexia Enlarged rubbery non tender nodes Hepatosplenomegaly
Inv CLL
High lymphocytes
Then AI haemolysis, marrow infiltration - low Hb, neutrophils and platelets
Complicatiosn of CLL
AI haemolysis
Infection from hypogammaglobulinaemia (reduced IgG) - esp herpes zoster
Marrow failure
Progression of CLL
Nodes slowly enlarge and can cause lymphatic compression
Infections cause death
Transform to aggressive lymphoma - Richter’s transformation
1/3 don’t progress, 1/3 will progress, 1/3 actively progressing
Infections found in CLL that can cause death
Haemophilus Pneumococcus Aspergillosis Meningococcus Candida
Treat CLL
Chemo if symptomatic, or depending on genes
Steroids for AI haemolysis
RT for lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly
Supportive - transfusions, IV human Ig if recurrent infection, prophylactic azithromycin acyclovir (+cotrimoxazole nebs for PCP)
Stem cell transplant
Staging CLL
Rai stages: 1 - lymphocytosis 2 - with lymphadenopathy 3 - with spleno/hepatomegaly 4 - with anaemia 5 - with platelets <100