hematologic malignancies Flashcards
blood cancer
myelodysplastic syndrome
consist of a group of acquired clonal neoplasms of the hematopoietic stem cell
characterized by:
- constellation of cytopenias
- hypercellular marrow
- morphologic dysplasia
- genetic abnormalities
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
- > 60 years old
- asymptomatic when diagnosis made (incidental finding of abnormal blood counts)
- cytopenia (fatigue, infection, bleeding)
- on exam: splenomegaly, pallor, bleeding, infection
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) signs and symptoms
CBC:
- anemia with normal or increased MCV
- left shift (immature neutrophils)
peripheral blood smear:
- macro ovalocytes (RBCs)
- neutrophils with morphologic abnormalities
myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) lab findings
what do you see on bone marrow aspiration/biopsy of MDS
- hypercellular
- erythroid hyperplasia
- signs of abnormal erythopoeisis
what do you see on bone marrow aspiration/biopsy of MDS (Prussian blue stain)
ringed sideroblasts
what do you see on bone marrow aspiration/biopsy of MDS (in the marrow)
myeloid series often left shifted, with variable increases in blasts
what do you see on bone marrow aspiration/biopsy of MDS (characteristic abnormality)
dwarf megakaryocytes with unilobed nucleus
what defines MDS
- genetic abnormalities
- frequent cryogenic abnormalities involving chromosome 5 and 7
how to differentiate between myelodysplasia and AML
as the number of blasts increase in bone marrow, myelodysplasia has <20% blasts
low risk MDS treatment
improve blood clots
- erythropoietic growth factors
chromosomal abnormality
- lenalidomide
immunosuppressive therapy
- anti-thymocyte globulin
high risk MDS treatment
preventing leukemia:
- hypomethylating agents (azacitidine and decitabine)
- bone marrow stem cell transplant (only cure)
Arise from the lineage that gives rise to granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and
monocytes), erythrocytes, and platelets
Myelogenous leukemias (AML and CML)
Involve the lymphocytic lineage (that gives rise to T and B lymphocytes
Lymphocytic leukemias (ALL and CLL)
cancer found in the blood and bone marrow, caused by too many white blood cells in the body. the white blood cells don’t let the body fight disease and prevent the body from making red blood cells and platelets.
leukemia
there are lots of partially developed WBC in the blood over a long
period of time
These partially developed WBC interfere with the development and function of healthy
WBC, platelets, and red blood cells
chronic leukemia
Myeloproliferative disorder characterized by overproduction of myeloid cells
chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
hallmark of chronic myeloid leukemia
philadelphia chromosomes also called fusion gene (bcr/abl)
detected by PCR testing of the peripheral blood and bone marrow
translocation between long arms of chromosome 9 and 22
philadelphia chromosomes
produces a protein that
possesses tyrosine kinase activity
Leads to excessive proliferation and reduced
apoptosis of CML cells
induces leukemia in hematopoietic
cells
fusion gene (bcr/abl)
(90% of time at diagnosis)
Early CML
Does not behave like a malignant disease
* Normal bone marrow function is retained
* WBCs differentiate
* Neutrophils combat infections normally
CML chronic phase
Untreated CML can progress to an
“acute blast” phase