Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Incidence
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the commonest childhood cancer. It constitutes one fourth to one third of all paediatric malignancies and 75% of all leukemias. In India,each year over 4000 children < 15 years of age will develop ALL. Indonesia with 200 millions people >2000childrens
Epidemiology
Age peak age of developing ALL is 4-5 years with the most frequent age range being 2 6 years. Boy are more frequently affected than girls (1,2:1) World wide, frequency, age distribution, and subtypes of ALL show striking geographic difference that could reflect variability in genetic susceptibility, environmental factor, or both.
Etiology
Childhood ALL, as with most other cancers remain a diseases with few proven etiology factor. Genetic and immunology factors. High incidence ALL amongst identical twins (inheritance); amongst patients with Blooms syndrome and Fanconi anemia (genetic, faulty DNA repair); Downs and Klinefelters syndrome (genetic); Environment factors : radiation (atomic bomb); benzene, pesticides and herbicides. Viral infection: Epstein-Barr virus (ALL L3; Burkit limphoma); HTLV I and II (adult T cell and hairy cell leukemia) and HIV (non Hodgkins lymphoma).
Nuclear shape
Nucleoli
Transitional Clg+(mu),slg+,slgpre - B (kappa), slg- (lambda) B-Cell Slg+,slg-(kappa), or slg+ (lambda) T - Cell cCD3+, CD17+,CD5+, or CD2+
4
2
15
Clinical features
The clinical features reflect underlying marrow failure including manifestation: Anemia: fatigue, irritability, pallor Trombocytopenia (petecchiae;purpura, bleeding) Neutropenia (fever, sepsis) Extra medullary diseases manifestation: Lymphadenopathy (50%); hepatosplenomegaly (68%); bone (28%); and joint paints (leukemic infiltrate of joint) CNS leukemia: raised intracranial pressure; headache; vomiting, neck stiffness, papilloedema; and/or focal neurologic symptooms like cranial nerve palsies.
Differential Diagnosis
Non Malignant conditions: - Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis - Infectious mononucleosis - Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura - Aplastic anemia - Acute infectious lymphocytosis Malignant conditions: - Neuroblastoma - Retinoblastoma - Rhabdomyosarcoma Unusual presentation: - Hyereosinopilic sndrome
Diagnosis
Bone marrow aspirate smear: 30% or more blast in marrow is diagnostic of acute leukemia. The distinction between ALL and AML is made by morphology of blast in the marrow and the characteristic pattern of staining with cytochemical stain FAB Classificaation * Immunobiology studies (phenotypes)
total and differential WBC count Bone marrow aspirate Chest X- ray (mediastinal mass) Uric acd and electrolyte: Na;K;Ca;PO4 LDH/LFT/KFT Diagnostic spinal tap
Prognostic factors
There are number of prognostic parameters which could help tailor the intensity of treatment. Some of these are: - WBC count at diagnosis - Age at diagnosis - Rapidity of leukemic cytoreduction during the early period of treatment - Cytogenetics [t(8;14),t(4;11),t(1;19) unfavourable; t(12;21) favourable - Ploidi (DNA index>1,1,, favourable) - Mediastinal mass (unfavourable) - CNS disease at presenation (UNFAVOURABLE)
Induction: aim therapy is induction of remission. Drug combination most frequently used ; Vincristine, L Asparaginase with or without Daunorubicine.
CNS prophylaxis: methotrexate intrathecal Consolidation: use same drugs as in induction and call it Reinduction treatment
When to refer
1.
2.
Immediately after suspecting acute leukemia either clinically or by laboratory parameters. Early referral by the paediatrician can avoid many disease related potentially life threatening conditions like severe infection, bleeding and metabolic problem.
Side of relapse in ALL: bone marrow; CNS; testes. Patients who develop hematologic relapse on therapy or shortly thereafter allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the treatment of choice. Autologous transplantation offers no substantial advantage over chemotherapy as post induction treatment.
Late sequelae
Few complications are as devastating as a second cancer, especially brain tumors or acute myeloid leukemia. Treatment with antracycline cardiomyopathy Cranial irradiation: brain tumors;neuropsychological deficit. endocrine dysfunction resulting in obesity short stature; precocious puberty osteoporosis Complication are seen in girls more then boys