Leukemia Flashcards
Leukemias vs. Lymphomas: Overproduction of cells
Leukemias: Overproduction of various types of immature or mature cells in the bone marrow and/or peripheral blood. Lymphomas: Solid malignant tumors of the lymph nodes and related WBCs in bone tissue.
Leukemias vs. Lymphomas: Cell Types
Leukemias: Frequently involves WBCs of the myelogenous or lymphocytic cell types. Lymphomas: The distinctive cell type is the lymphocyte.
Leukemias vs. Lymphomas: Blood-brain barrier
Leukemias: Malignant cells easily trespass the blood-brain barrier. Lymphomas: Malignant cells are initially confined to lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and bone marrow, though they can spill into the circulating blood.
Leukemias vs. Lymphomas: Tumor location and spread
Leukemias: Malignant cells primarily in bone marrow and peripheral blood. Lymphomas: Solid tumors in lymph nodes and organs containing mononuclear phagocytic cells, may spill over into circulating blood.
Leukemia: Definition
Overproduction of immature or mature WBCs in the bone marrow or peripheral blood.
Leukemia: Disease course and WBC count
More blasts = shorter, fatal course; ↑ WBC with left shift.
Leukemia: M:E ratio
10:1.
Anemia type in acute leukemia
Normocytic, normochromic.
Acute Leukemias: Duration and cell forms
Short duration; numerous immature cells in bone marrow/peripheral blood; ↑ WBC count.
Chronic Leukemias: Duration and cell forms
Long duration; mostly mature cells in bone marrow/peripheral blood; WBC count varies (elevated or lower than normal).
FAB Classification of Leukemias
Based on morphology in Romanowsky-stained smear and cytologic/histochemical characteristics of cells.
Myeloperoxidase (MPO): Function
Used to differentiate AML blasts from ALL blasts.; found in primary granules of neutrophils, eosinophils, and monocytes
MPO Positive Cells
Neutrophilic granulocytes, Auer rods, leukemic blasts in FAB M1, M2, M3, eosinophils.
MPO Weakly Positive or Negative Cells
Monocytes.
MPO Negative Cells
Myeloblasts, basophils, lymphocytic and erythrocytic cell series.
Peroxidase Stain Reminders
May produce red-brown, dark brown, or black color; RBCs may turn brown due to pseudoperoxidase activity in hemoglobin.
Precautions for DAB Handling
Wear protective clothing, use mechanical pipetting aids, clean up spills instantly, wash hands after use, weigh benzidine in hood.
Peroxidase Enzyme Sensitivity
Sensitive to light; stain immediately or keep in dark. Older smears or those exposed to light should not be peroxidase negative.
Cyanide-resistant Peroxidase Stain
Detects eosinophilic leukemia; eosinophil peroxidase differs due to enzyme activity with sodium cyanide.
Sudan Black B (SBB): Function
Stains sterols, neutral fats, phospholipids in primary and secondary granules of neutrophils and lysosomal granules of monocytes.
SBB Positive Cells
Promyelocyte, myelocyte, metamyelocytes, bands, segmented neutrophils (strongly positive), leukemic blasts, Auer rods, eosinophils.
SBB Weakly Positive or Negative Cells
Myeloblasts, monocytic cells.
SBB Negative Cells
Lymphocytes and precursors, megakaryocytes, platelets, erythrocytes.
SBB Staining Reminders
Brownish-black granules in myelocytic precursors, few granules in monocytes, eosinophilic granules with central pallor.
SBB Staining Properties
Can be performed on specimens months old; reagents not carcinogenic.
SBB Disadvantages
Time-consuming (1-2 hours), possible false positives in lipid vacuole disorders, increased background in bone marrow specimens.
Lymphocytic Leukemias: Myeloperoxidase and Sudan Black B
Myeloperoxidase: negative, Sudan Black B: negative.
Most Common Childhood Leukemia
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).
FAB Classification: L1
70% of childhood ALL; markers: CALLA (CD10), TdT, CD19, CD20.
FAB Classification: L2
70% of adult ALL; markers: TdT.
FAB Classification: L3
Rare in children/adults; markers: sIg, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD24.
FAB Classification: Cell Size L1
Homogeneous population of small blasts.
FAB Classification: Cell Size L2
Heterogeneous population of large blasts.
FAB Classification: Cell Size L3
Homogeneous population of large blasts with nuclear and cytoplasmic vacuoles.
Nucleus L1
Uniformly round, small.
Nucleus L2
Irregular.
Nucleus L3
Round to oval.
Nucleolus L1
Single.
Nucleolus L2
Single to several.
Nucleolus L3
Two to five.
Chromatin L1
Slightly reticulated with perinucleolar clumping.
Chromatin L2
Fine.
Chromatin L3
Coarse with clear parachromatin.
Cytoplasm L1
Scant, blue.
Cytoplasm L2
Moderate, pale.
Cytoplasm L3
Moderate, blue, prominently vacuolated.
Cyto-chemistry L1
PAS+: Positive, Methyl Green Pyronin: Negative, ORO: Positive (sometimes).
Cyto-chemistry L2
PAS+: Positive, Methyl Green Pyronin: Negative, ORO: Positive (sometimes).
Cyto-chemistry L3
PAS: Negative, Methyl Green Pyronin: Positive, ORO: Positive.
Immunologic Markers: E Rosettes
T-ALL: Positive.
Immunologic Markers: Surface Ig
B-ALL: Positive.
Immunologic Markers: Serum Anti-ALL
Common ALL: Positive.
Most common type of leukemia in elderly, characterized by persistent lymphocytes
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) cells present
Increased smudge cells, Rieder cells in peripheral blood smear.