Leukemia

Question 1

Leukemia types

Answer 1

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Question 2

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

Answer 2

Malignant disease of the bone marrow in which hematopoietic precursors are arrested in the early stage of development (myeloid cells are impacted) - deadly - excess immature white blood cells

Question 3

Leukemia typically…

Answer 3

Start in cells that would normally develop into different types of blood cells. Most often, leukemia starts in early forms of white blood cells, but some leukemia’s start in other blood cell types. Leukemia types are based mainly on whether it is acute or chronic, and whether it starts in myeloid cells or lymphoid cells.

Question 4

Myeloid cells

Answer 4

Myeloid cells can develop into red blood cells, white blood cells (other than lymphocytes), or platelets. These are abnormal in AML.

Question 5

Bone marrow

Answer 5

Made of blood-forming cells, fat cells, and supporting tissue. A fraction are blood stem cells that develop into new blood cells.

Question 6

Lymphocytes or lymphoid cells

Answer 6

Lymphoid stem cells becomes a lymphoblast cell and then one of three types of lymphocytes (WBC), which helps the body fight infections. Dv into lymphoblasts in bone marrow. Make up lymph tissue - major part of immune system - found in lymph nodes, the thymus, and other areas. Types include B and T cells, as well as natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses.

Question 7

Platelets

Answer 7

A type of blood cell. Cell fragment made by a type of bone marrow cell (megakaryocyte). Help to stop bleeding by plugging holes.

Question 8

Monocytes

Answer 8

A type of WBC - becomes macrophages, which can destroy some germs and help lymphocytes make antibodies to fight them

Question 9

Acute lymphoblastic(also lymphocytic) leukemia (ALL)

Answer 9

Makes too many lymphocytes. Most common type of cancer in children, but treatment results in a good chance for a cure, but not for adults.

Question 10

Granulocytes

Answer 10

A WBC that fights infection and disease

Question 11

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Answer 11

Builds up over time - asymptomatic for some time. Lymphocytic leukemias are mainly in bone marrow, while lymphoma tend to be in lymph nodes/tissue.
Most common leukemia in adults. Starts in cells that become lymphocytes (WBC) in bone marrow - then goes into blood.

Question 12

Apoptosis

Answer 12

the death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism’s growth or development.

Question 13

Blasts

Answer 13

Or myeloblasts. Patients with AML have too many immature white blood cells and not enough rbc or platelets. Many wb cells may be myeoblasts, which are very early forms of blood-forming cells that are not normally found in the blood. They don’t work like normal cells and may suggest leukemia.

Having at least 20% is required for a dx of AML. (5% or less is normal.)

Question 14

Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)

Answer 14

For patients: In MDS, some of the cells in the bone marrow are abnormal (dysplastic) and have problems making new blood cells.

Providers: myeloid malignancies characterizes by one or more peripheral blood cytopenias (reduction in the number of mature blood cells).