Leukaemia

Question 1

what is a haematological malignancy?

Answer 1

DNA mutation

Question 2

what does the DNA mutation do?

Answer 2

switches off a tumour suppressor gene or switches on an oncogene

Question 3

what are the characteristics of cancer cells

Answer 3

uncontrolled proliferation, loss of apoptosis, loss of normal functions/products

Question 4

if there is an acute cancer involving lymphoid cells what is this called?

Answer 4

acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Question 5

if there is an acute cancer involving myeloid cells what is this called?

Answer 5

acute myeloid leukaemia

Question 6

if there is a chronic cancer involving lymphoid cells what is this called?

Answer 6

chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, hodgkin lymphoma, non-hodgkin lymphoma or multiple myeloma

Question 7

if there is a chronic cancer involving myeloid cells what is this called?

Answer 7

chronic myeloid leukaemia, myeloproliferative disorders

Question 8

what do “acute” and “chronic” indicate?

Answer 8

clinical behaviour

Question 9

what is a blast

Answer 9

immature cell

Question 10

what is leukaemia

Answer 10

a group of cancers of the bone marrow which prevent normal manufacture of the blood

Question 11

what does leukaemia result in?

Answer 11

anaemia, infection, bleeding

Question 12

what is neutropenia?

Answer 12

infection

Question 13

what is thrombocytopenia?

Answer 13

bleeding

Question 14

what is the pathogenesis of leukaemia?

Answer 14

clonal proliferation, replacement of marrow, increasing marginalisation of productive normal marrow

Question 15

what does the increasing marginalisation of productive normal marrow cause?

Answer 15

marrow failure, organ infiltration

Question 16

what is the clinical presentation of leukaemia?

Answer 16

anaemia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly/hepatomegaly and bone pain

Question 17

what are the symptoms of anaemia?

Answer 17

breathlessness, tiredness, easily fatigued, chest pain/angina

Question 18

what are the signs of anaemia?

Answer 18

pallor, signs of cardiac failure, nail changes

Question 19

what does neutropenia present as?

Answer 19

infections associated with portals of entry, reactivation of latent infections

Question 20

what are the symptoms of neutropenia?

Answer 20

recurrent infection, unusual severity of infection

Question 21

what are the signs of neutropenia?

Answer 21

unusual patterns of infection and rapid spread, will respond to treatment but recur, signs of systemic involvement (fever/rigors)

Question 22

what are the symptoms of bleeding?

Answer 22

bruised easily, minor cuts fail to clot, gingival bleeding or nose bleeds, menorrhagia

Question 23

what are the signs of bleeding?

Answer 23

bruising, petechiae, BOP, bleeding/bruising

Question 24

when does acute lymphoblastic leukaemia normally occur?

Answer 24

4 years old but can occur in adults

Question 25

what are the signs and symptoms of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Answer 25

fever, sweats, malaise, lymphadenopathy, tissue infiltration

Question 26

who is acute myeloid leukaemia more common in?

Answer 26

elderly

Question 27

who is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia normally seen in?

Answer 27

older adults

Question 28

what are the symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?

Answer 28

asymptomatic

Question 29

how does chronic lymphocytic leukaemia turn aggressive?

Answer 29

by occasional blast transformation

Question 30

what is chronic lymphocytic leukaemia?

Answer 30

B-cell clonal lymphoproliferative disease

Question 31

what is chronic myeloid leukaemia?

Answer 31

increase in neutrophils and their precursors

Question 32

what is the clinical presentation of chronic myeloid leukaemia?

Answer 32

fatigue, weight loss, sweating, anaemia, bleeding, splenomegaly