Lymphoma and Leukaemia Flashcards
What factors can predispose patients to Acute leukaemia?
Environmental: Radiation ,benzene, alkylating agents, tobacco
Acquired diseases: Clonal myeloid diseases, other haemopoietic disorders
Inherited conditions: e.g. downs syndrome, sibling with acute leukaemia
From what process do mutations that lead to Leukaemia arise in the majority of cases?
Chromosomal translocation
What are the two most common cause of Chronic Leukaemia?
Chronic Lymphocytic leukaemia
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
What is Acute leukaemia?
Proliferation/accumulation of blasts (immature blood cells) compromising normal marrow function.
Immature cells can block capillaries and block oxygenation of tissues.
Rapid clinical course and fatal if untreated.
Can die within 24-48 hours.
What is Chronic Leukaemia?
Accumulation of maturer white cells with gradual compromise of marrow function.
Indolent course, with or without treatment.
Untreated: may live for weeks, months or years.
Can you diagnose Leukaemia based on Clinical features?
No - non-specific symptoms. Although they are always taken into account
What type of cell is characteristic of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia?
Smear cells. Leukaemic cells that get smeared on the slide. Non-smeared leukaemic cells look like normal lymphocytes.
Can’t make diagnosis on the basis of smear cells alone
What is a characteristic features of cells involved in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia?
Often granulated blastic cells
Often have pink or rod-like inclusions called Auer rods, which criss-cross they cytoplasm.
What sort of cell population will you find in Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia?
Leukocytosis
Lots of mature white blood cells
Left shift: myelocytes
Increased neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils.
What are myelocytes?
Also granulocytes.
Neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils.
What drug is used to treat CML? How does it work?
Imatinib.
Targets tyrosine kinase. Inhibits BCR-ABL autophosphorylation and phosphorylation.
What is the cure rate of childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia?
80%
