SM_270b: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemias Flashcards
Describe hierarchy of hematopoiesis
Hematopoiesis
T cells mature in the ___
T cells mature in the thymus
B cells mature in the ___
B cells mature in the bone marrow
Describe antigen expression in normal B cell development
Antigen expression in normal B cell development
Describe antigen expression in normal T cell development
Antigen expression in normal T cell development
Describe acute lymphoblastic leukemia / lymphoma
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia / lymphoma
- B acute lymphoblastic leukemia / lymphoma: recurrent genetic abnormalities, not otherwise specified
- T acute lymphoblastic leukemia / lymphoma: early precursor T, others
LBL involves ____, while ALL involves ____
LBL involves mass lesion and <25% blasts in bone marrow, while ALL involves > 25% blasts in bone marrow
Describe epidemiology of ALL
Epidemiology of ALL
- Most common cancer of children
- 85% of ALL are B-ALL
- Peak incidence of T-ALL/LBL in adolescence
- Male predominance
ALL is associated with ___
ALL is associated with Down syndrome
Describe B-ALL pathophysiology
B-ALL pathophysiology
- Acquired genetic alterations
- Maturation arrest and cell proliferation
- Bone marrow replaced by neoplastic lymphoblasts and normal hematopoiesis impaired
- Peripheral cytopenia
- Lymphoblasts enter blood and infiltrate other organs (spleen, lymph nodes)
Describe B-ALL clinical features
B-ALL clinical features
- Abrupt onset within days to a few weeks
- Symptoms related to bone marrow failure: anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia
- B symptoms: fever, night sweats
- Hepatosplentomegaly, lymphadenopathy, testicular enlargement
- Bone pain
- Uncommon CNS involvement
Describe T-ALL / LBL clinical features
T-ALL / LBL clinical features
- High WBC count
- Anterior mediastinal mass
- SVC syndrome: pain, dysphagia, dyspnea, or swelling of neck / face / upper limbs due to obstruction of SVC
- Tracheal obstruction
- Pericardial and pleural effusion
- CNS involvement
This is a ___ seen in ___
Lymphoblast in ALL
This is ___ seen in ___
Hand-mirror cell in ALL
Describe ALL morphology
ALL morphology
- Bone marrow biopsy: hypercellular, sheets of blasts
- Bone marrow aspirate: increased number of blasts
- B and T lymphoblasts are morphologically similar