Malignancies Flashcards
Leukemia
neoplastic disorder of the blood and bone marrow
what are neoplastic cells derived from?
myeloid or lymphoid cell lines
lymphoma
solid tumor of the RES, mostly lymph nodes
-also derived from lymphoid cell lines
clinical manifestations of leukemia
nonspecific but primarily include:
- fatigue
- musculoskeletal pain
- headache
exam findings of leukemia
fever hepatosplenomegaly lymphadenopathy bleeding infection pallor
lab findings of leukemia
- usually elevated WBC’s but range can be wide
- decreased RBCs and platelets
- anemia, thrombocytopenia
how to definitively diagnose leukemia
bone marrow biopsy
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
arises from myeloid stem cell line -Most common in adults >> Predisposing factors: - male gender - smoking - genetic (Down syndrome, Trisomy 8) -essential thrombocytosis -chemicals, radiation exposure, chemotherapeutic drugs
peripheral smear findings of AML
-blast cells (95% have myeloblasts)
-Auer rods in the cytoplasm of myeloblasts
(white cell inclusion body)
prognosis of AML
varies
-the older the patient, the worse the prognosis
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
Associated with the Philadelphia chromosome -> transposition gene responsible for tyrosine kinase signaling protein always on
what causes CML?
no clear cut cause except high dose irradiation
-no predisposing factors
tyrosine kinase signaling protein
responsible for replication & reproduction of myeloid cell
lab findings of CML
WBC > 100k *
- Thrombocytosis (>600k) often seen
- anemia
- increased basophils (Basophilia- rare) and generalized granulocytosis with immature forms
- not always WBC that is elevated in leukemia
what phase are patients in 85% of the time in the clinical course of CML?
chronic phase
- pts are asymptomatic
- at time of diagnosis - CBC is abnormal