Haematology 2 Flashcards
What are the 5 things that may have caused leukemia?
1) Radiation
2) Chemicals such as benzenes
3) Viruses (human T cell leukaemic virus)
4) Genetic factors
5) Acquired hematological disorders
During leukaemia, neoplastic cells can spill to peripheral blood, what can this lead to?
- Spread to bone marrow affects important cell lines (results in anaemia)
- Impacts immune system
- Impacts coagulation from platelets leading to bleeding
- Abnormal cells spill to liver&kidney, bones, testicles and even the gingiva.
What happens when neoplastic cells spill out the bone marrow?
What organs do they tend to go to?
- Spillage to other organs such as lymph nodes causing lymphadenopathy, liver, spleen, CNS, bones, testicles and gingiva.
How do we classify leukaemia?
- Acute/Chronic
- Myeloid/Lymphoid
What is acute lymphoblastic leukemia?
How do we manage this?
Cancer of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that progresses quickly.
Management:
- Non-myelosuppressive chemotherapy
What is acute myeloid leukaemia?
How is it managed?
Cancer of myeloid cells that progressives quickly.
Managed with intensive chemotherapy.
What is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?
How is it managed?
Production of underdeveloped lymphocytes over a long time.
Chemotherapy.
What are chronic lymphocytic leukaemia symptoms?
- Feeling unwell
- Swelling of lymph nodes
- Recurrent infections
- Abnormal blood cell count
What is chronic myeloid leukemia and what are the clinical features?
Cancer of myeloid cells occurring over a long period of time.
Signs:
- Bone marrow failure
- Losing weight
- Night sweats
What chromosome is associated with chronic myeloid leukemia?
Philadelphia chromosome.
What is the dental relevance of leukaemia?
- Gingival bleeding, oral ulceration, sore mouth and increased susceptibility to infections
What is a lymphoma and what are the two classifications?
Cancer of the lymphatic system (lymph nodes, thymus, spleen and bone marrow).
Hodgkin’s disease = nodal (involves lymph nodes)
Non Hodgkin’s disease = extra nodal and associated with many diseases and outcomes
What is Hodgkin’s disease and what are the clinical features?
Hodgkin’s disease = cancer of lymphatic system that sticks to lymph nodes.
Clinical Features:
- Lymphadenopathy (particularly of the cervical lymph chain)
- B symptoms
- Fatigue
- Itchy red rashes
- Mediastinal lymph node involvement
How do we stage Hodgkin’s disease?
1 = Single LN region 2 = Two LN regions 3 = Groups on both side of diaphragm 4 = Widespread disease outside lymphatic tissue
How do we investigate Hodgkin’s disease?
INVESTIGATIONS:
- Full blood cell count
- Renal blood tests
- Chest CT scans
- Lymph node biopsy
- Increase in ESR (inflammatory markers)