Showinsky Intro Flashcards
List the 3 main manners in which hematologic malignancies manifest.
Leukemia, lymphoma, extramedullary myeloid tumor/granulocytic sarcoma
In what ways do hematologic malignancies overlap?
A hematologic malignancy may have characteristics of other malignancies, but the diagnosis is based on which is most prevalent.
How is the severity of a lymphoma classified?
By grade, high or low
How is the severity of a leukemia classified?
By acute or chronic onset
What is the presentation of high grade lymphoma.
Usually rapid onset, often seen with a high WBC and marrow takeover
What is the presentation of low grade lymphoma.
Often presents with enlarged lymph nodes and mildly elevated WBC count
What is the presentation of acute leukemia.
Rapidly progressing often with failed production of normal marrow. Will see low production of other blood cells. Most prevalent cells are often blasts
T or F: The prognosis of acute leukemia is often favorable even without therapy.
False. Poor prognosis without therapy.
What is the presentation of chronic leukemia.
Both CML and CLL have a slow onset with no symptoms at time of diagnosis, increased WBC count due to accumulation of normal mature blood cells
Why do lymphomas contain balanced translocations involving immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes?
B and T cells undergo genetic recombination during development that may predispose them to translocations.
What is meant by a balanced translocation?
No genetic material is added or lost in translocation.
What is the importance of a translocation in a hematologic malignancy?
This can be a diagnostic of the particular type of cancer.
List 3 viruses known to have oncogenic roles in some cases of lymphoma.
EBV, HTLV-1 (human T cell leukemia virus), Kaposi sarcoma/human herpes virus 8
What type of cancers do EBV predispose a person towards?
Hodgkin, some cases of Burkitt, B-cell NHLs
What type of cancers do HTLV-1 predispose a person towards?
Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma
What type of cancers do Kaposi/Human herpes virus 8 predispose a person towards?
Primary effusion lymphoma
What is the incidence of leukemias and lymphomas in adults?
Leukemia - 6th most common; NHL - 7th most common; Myeloma - 15th most common
What is the incidence of leukemias and lymphomas in children?
Leukemia - 1st most common; Brain/CNS cancer - 2nd most common; Lymphoma - 3rd most common
What are the 5 classification categories for hematologic malignancies?
1.) Cell morphology 2.) Histologic growth pattern 3.) Cytogenetic findings 4.) Relative amounts of malignant cells 5.) Phenotype of malignant cells
What are the basic functional categories of hematologic malignancies (7 of them)
1.) Acute leukemias 2.) Myelodysplastic syndrome 3.) Myeloproliferative neoplasms 4.) Hodgkin lymphoma 5.) Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 6.) Plasma Cell Neoplasms 7.) Other?
What are the expected findings for an acute leukemia?
Block in maturation that results in accumulation of immature cells in the bone marrow.
What are the expected findings for myelodysplastic syndrome?
Bone marrow is taken over by a neoplastic clone that is incapable of making normal cells of one or more myeloid lineage
What are the expected findings for an myeloproliferative syndrome
Bone marrow is taken over by neoplastic cell that make too many of one or more myeloid lineages
What are the expected findings for classic Hodgkin lymphoma?
A very unique B cell lymphoma
What are the expected findings for an non-Hodgkin lymphoma?
All of the different mature lymphocyte malignancies that are not Hodgkin lymphoma
What are the expected findings for an plasma cell neoplasma?
includes MGUS, plasmacytoma, and multiple myeloma
What other hematologic cells can get cancer (other than T, B, or myeloid cells)?
Histiocytes, dendritic cells and others, but these are very rare
What are the predisposing factors for hematologic malignancies?
1.) Primary or acquired immunodeficiency 2.) DNA damage due to chemicals or radiation or benzene 3.) Inherited condition of hematologic instability
T or F: There is such thing as a benign hematologic malignancy.
FALSE
