Malignant Haematology

Question 1

1. Malignant Haemopoiesis is characterised usually by _______ numbers of normal or dysfunctional cells and loss of normal activity.
2. What three factors distinguish haematological malignancies.
3. What is the difference between Leukaemia and Lymphoma?

Answer 1

1. Increased
2. Cell lineage (Myeloid/Lymphoid), Precursor within lineage (Precursors), Anatomical site involved (Leukaemia/Lymphoma)
3. Leukaemia is blood cancer Lymphoma is lymphoid malignancy.

Question 2

1. Acute Leukaemia is defined as an excess of _______ in either the peripheral blood or bone marrow. There are _____ types of Acute Leukaemia
2. Acute _________ Leukaemia (ALL) is a malignant disease of __________. It is the MOST common _________ cancer. Acute _______ Leukaemia is more common in the elderly.

Answer 2

1. Blasts, Two

2. Lymphoblastic, Lymphoblasts, Childhood, Myeloid

Question 3

1. In acute Leukaemia the blood film shows a ______ in normal cells and an _______ in abnormal cells. The abnormal cells have a high nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio and there are characteristically _____ ____ in the cytoplasm. ___________ is required for a definitive diagnosis.
2. Identify one of the major risks of Leukaemia treatment

Answer 3

1. Reduction, Increase, Auer Rods, Immunophenotyping.

2. Neutropenic Sepsis from Gram -ive bacteria

Question 4

1. INDAM is a helpful pathological pneumonic to differentiate between causes of what?
2. What does it stand for?

Answer 4

1. Lymphadenopathy

2. Infectious/Neoplastic/Drugs-or-toxins/Autoimmune/Metabolic

Question 5

1. What distinguishes lymphadenopathy in infection compared to lymphoma?
2. What investigations are important for Lymphadenopathy?

Answer 5

1. In viral/bacteria infection the lymph nodes are tender. In lymphoma they are non-tender but soft and rubbery
2. Clinical examination and always bloods. If bloods normal then Lymph node biopsy. If not then immunophenotyping, if immunophenotyping normal then biopsy