Haematology + oncology Flashcards
causes of microcytic anaemia
Iron deficiency (hypochromic microcytic)
Thalassaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease (rarely)
causes of normocytic anaemic
Acute bleeding Haemolysis - congenital - acquired Aplastic anaemia Anaemia of chronic disease
causes of macrocytic anaemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency = both may cause pancytopenia
Macrocytosis without anaemia:
- liver disease
- hypothyroidism
- alcohol
acute leukaemia is due to…
failed differentiation of cells, leads to large numbers of malignant precursor cells in the bone marrow
chronic leukaemia is due to…
chronic leukaemia is the result of excessive proliferation of mature malignant cells
acute lymphoblastic leukaemia features
abnormal clinical proliferation of lymphoid progenitor cells
- typically affects children
- bone marrow failure: anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
- organ infiltration: lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, bone pain, CNS involvement (eg. nerve palsy), testicular swelling
- high blast cells
differentiating ALL from AML
blood film shows different precursor cells
AML cells have Auer rods on microscopy
features of acute myeloid leukaemia
abnormal clinical proliferation of myeloid progenitor cells
- typically affects adults + elderly
- associated with myelodysplastic syndromes
- bone marrow failure: anaemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia
- organ infiltration: hepatosplenomegaly, bone pain, gum hypertrophy
- high blast cells
features of myelodysplastic syndrome
“Premalignant” condition of haematopoietic precursors
- affects elderly
- may present with anaemia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, may be asymptomatic
- may become acute myeloid leukaemia
features of chronic myeloid leukaemia
- typically affects middle-aged patients (men more commonly)
- usually associated with Philadelphia chromosome
- symptomatic anaemia eg. SOB, fatigue
- weight loss
- massive splenomegaly
- bleeding/bruising
investigations for chronic myeloid leukaemia
- leukocytosis (high neutrophils/basophils/eosinophils/monocytes)
- Philadelphia chromosome (t9:22)
management of chronic myeloid leukaemia
- presence of Philadelphia chromosome = imitanib
- chemotherapy
features of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
proliferation of functionally incompetent malignant B cells
- most common in male patients over the age of 60
- often asymptomatic
- may have symptoms of
> bone marrow failure eg. anaemia, infection prone, bleeding
> cancer: weight loss, night sweats
> infiltration: hepatosplenomegaly, lymophadenopathy
investigations for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
FBC: lymphocytosis, anaemia
blood film: smudge cells
immunophenotyping
features of Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- typically young adults
- painless lymphadenopathy
- B symptoms: night sweats, weight loss, fever
- may be pain on drinking alcohol
- peaks at 15-35yrs and >55
- Reed-Sternberg cell diagnostic on biopsy of lymph node
RFs for Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Epstein-Barr Virus
- HIV
- immunosuppression
- smoking
types of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- indolent or low grade eg. follicular lymphoma
> gradual onset, usually advanced at presentation
> may be asymptomatic
> incurable but treatable (use for watchful waiting), median survival 10 years - aggressive or high grade eg diffuse large B cell lymphoma
> rapidly progressive
> usually symptomatic: painless lymphadenopathy, B symptoms, extranodal (gastric, bone marrow, CNS symptoms)
> potentially curable