Leukemia and Lymphoma Flashcards
Definition of Leukemia
Neoplasms arising from the hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow
(cells gone haywire in the blood-making cells of the marrow)
How are the four types of leukemia classified?
Acute vs Chronic
Lymphocytic vs. Non-lymphocytic/Myelogenous
Which ACUTE leukemia is more common in adults?
ANL/AML (Acute Non-Lymphocytic/Myelogenous)
= 80% of acute cases
ANL/AML long term survival rate as a percentage?
~40% in adults
Hallmark of ALL?
Pancytopenia with circulating blasts
“ALL cells are decreased - blast!”
Which is the MOST COMMON leukemia in adults?
CLL - chronic lymphocytic leukemia
What is the hallmark of the most common leukemia in adults, which is CLL?
Lymphocytosis - increase in number of lymphocytes
What are lymphocytes?
one type of WBC category
include T cells, B cells, NK cells
(main type of cells found in lymph)
Both CHRONIC leukemias (CLL and CML) occur in which stage of adulthood?
More typically found in middle and older adults
What is the median survival of CML in years?
3 - 4 years
What is the median survival of CLL in years?
10 years
in CLL, the most common adult leukemia
Which leukemia has Philadelphia chromosomes as its hallmark?
CML
the less common of the adult chronic leukemias
Early signs of leukemia?
May be asymptomatic or vague -
fatigue
weakness
anorexia
More ominous - and typically later - signs of leukemia?
Generalized lymphadenopathy
Weight loss
What test usually distinguishes acute from chronic leukemia (though does not CONFIRM the diagnosis)?
A peripheral blood smear DISTINGUISHES.
