Leukemias

//Western Diagnosis// malignant neoplasm of the blood-forming tissues

Etiology
1. unknown 2. possibly viral - HTLV 3. radiation, chemicals may cause 4. genetic

Classification
a. lymphoblastic (ALL) ---children ---peaks ages 3-5 b. myeloid (AML) ---adults a. myelocytic (CML) ---any age, gender ---median age 45 b. lymphocytic (CLL) --->60 yrs old ---2x more in men
 * Acute**
 * Chronic**

all from malignant transformation of some type of stem cell usually in the bone marrow

Signs & Symptoms
1. from suppression of normal blood cell formation and organ infiltration 2. depend on the type of cell line that is abnormal

a. bleeding - petechiae, easy bruising, epistaxis b. pallor, fever c. HA, V, irritability d. bone and joint pain, deep bone ache
 * Acute**

a. fatigue, weakness, anorexia, weight loss b. fever, nightsweats c. splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy d. bleeding, pallor are late signs
 * Chronic**

Laboratory
1. CBC with peripheral blood smear 2. bone marrow biopsy

Treatment
1. chemotherapy ---good prognosis with acute if found early ---palliation - trying to keep pts asx with chronic