Leukaemias and Lymphomas

Question 1

What are the two forms of leukaemias and the two forms of lymphomas?

Answer 1

Leukaemias are acute and chronic

Lymphomas are hodgkins and non hodgkins

Question 2

What are the three main types of presentation for leukaemias?

Answer 2

Marrow failure - anaemia, thrombocytopenia will cause purpura and bleeding
Hyperviscosity - due to leukocytosis will cause headaches and blurred vision
Leukaemic infiltration - Gum swelling and hepatosplenomegaly

Question 3

How are hodgkins and non-hodgkins lymphomas diagnosed?

Answer 3

• Hodgkins lymphoma is diagnosed through the presence of HRS cells within the tumour mass, the majority of the tumour mass will be normal inflammatory cells
• Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is likely to be diffuse large B cell lymphoma or follicular lymphoma, with the latter much lower grade.