Haematological cancers Flashcards
What is leukaemia?
Cancer affecting blood and bone marrow
What is lymphoma?
Cancer affecting lymph nodes
What is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)?
Malignancy of lymphoblasts (give rise to B & T cells)
Most common paediatric malignancy
ALL commonly affects which group?
Children
associated w ionising x-rays during pregnancy, Down’s
What are the clinical presentations of ALL? (3)
Peripheral lymphadenopathy CNS INVOLVEMENT (eg facial palsy) SVC obstruction: RED FACE, DILATED SUPERFICIAL CHEST VEINS
ALL affects B cells in which age group?
Children
ALL affects T cells in which group?
Adults
What are the investigations for ALL? (3)
FBC: anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia
CXR & CT scan: look mediastinal & abdominal lymphadenopathy
Lumbar puncture: looks for CNS involvement
What is the treatment for ALL? (3)
Chemotherapy
Steroids
Intrathecal drugs eg methotrexate
What three risk factors would give a poor prognosis for ALL?
Adult
Male
Philadelphia chromosome
What is acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)?
Cancer of myeloblasts (gives rise to basophils, neutrophils, eosinophils)
AML commonly affects which group?
Adults 40+
What are the clinical presentations for AML? (2)
Peripheral lymphadenopathy
GUM HYPERTROPHY
What are the investigations for AML? (2)
FBC: anaemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia
Bone marrow biopsy: AUER RODS
What is the treatment for AML? (3)
Chemotherapy
Steroids
Sibling matched allogeneic bone marrow transplant
How would you differentiate between ALL and AML? (2)
AML have Auer rods on BM biopsy
ALL have CNS involvement
What is one sign seen only in AML and not ALL?
Gum hypertrophy
What is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)?
Cancer of B cells
CLL commonly affects which groups? (2)
Adults 70+
Ppl w low immunity
What are the clinical presentations for CLL? (2)
Often ASYMPTOMATIC
ENLARGED, RUBBERY NON-TENDER NODES
How would you investigate CLL? (2)
FBC: HIGH LYMPHOCYTES, then anaemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia
Blood film: SMALL, MATURE LYMPHOCYTES
How would you manage CLL? (2)
Watch + wait - consider treatment if symptomatic
FLUDARABINE + RITUXIMAB +/- CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE
What is chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)?
Cancer of neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, macrophages
CML commonly affects which groups?
Adults 40-60