Myeloid leukemia

Buy now to access the full article, existing subscribers login

Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Age predisposition, Special risks (e.g. anesthetic), Pathogenesis, Etiology, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Gross autopsy findings, Histopathology findings, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Initial symptomatic treatment, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Jo Morris BVSc PhD BSc Dip ECVIM-CA (Onc) FRCVS
Synonyms Myeloproliferative disease, AML, GML

Introduction

  • Cause : arises from neoplastic transformation and proliferation of early myeloid precursor cells.
  • Aggressive and rapidly progressive disease of unknown etiology.
  • More common in cat (10% of hemopoietic neoplasia) than other domestic species but still rare.
  • Most cases are FeLV positive.
  • Signs : non-specific and due to consequences of abnormal marrow function, ie anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia.
  • Diagnosis : by recognition of neoplastic cells in peripheral blood and in bone marrow - may require cytochemical stains to distinguish different neoplastic cell types.
  • Treatment : supportive and specific cytotoxic drugs.
  • Prognosis : very poor for acute forms, good for chronic disease.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Pallor.
  • Spleno/hepatomegaly.
  • Mild lymphadenopathy.
  • Pyrexia (if infection present).
  • Petechial hemorrhages if thrombocytopenia.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Lymphoid leukemia  Chronic lymphoid leukemia  /lymphoma  Lymphoma  .
  • Regenerative or hyperplastic marrow response.
  • Other causes of anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia.
  • Hypereosinophilic syndrome.
  • Mast cell leukemia  Mastocytoma  .
  • Secondary polycythemia .

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Chronic forms may survive for several years.
  • Grim in acute forms; survival times rarely exceed 3 months.

Expected response to treatment

  • Aim to return white blood cell count to normal and eliminate blast cells from peripheral circulation - rarely achieved.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Common.
  • Failure to induce or achieve remission.
  • Organ failure enhanced by cytotoxic effects of drugs.
  • Septicemia secondary to disease or treatment.

Sources

Publications

Other sources of information

  • Ward H and Couto C GMyeloid leukaemia.In:Consultations in feline internal medicine3pp509-513.

Sample content only, to unlock the full article login or buy now

Loading...