Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Samples
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Overview
Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Following are the common signs and symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can also be symptoms of a variety of other conditions, which can make them easy to be ignored or dismissed. They include:
- Anemia
- Abdominal swelling or discomfort due to an enlarged spleen
- Bleeding
- Excessive sweating, especially at night
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Itching
- Bone pain
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Sense of fullness or bloating in the stomach
- Feeling full after eating, even if only a small amount
Symptoms alone will not be enough to diagnose chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) because they’re common in several types of cancers, as well as other more common conditions.
Causes of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Phases of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is divided into the following 3 different phases: chronic, accelerated, or blast.
- Chronic phase: The blood and bone marrow contain less than 10% blasts. Blasts are immature white blood cells. This phase can last for several years. However, without effective treatment, the disease can progress to the accelerated or blast phases. About 90% of patients have chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) when they are diagnosed. Some patients with chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have symptoms when they are diagnosed and some do not. Most symptoms go away once treatment begins.
- Accelerated phase: There is no single definition of accelerated phase. However, most patients with this phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have 10% to 19% blasts in both the blood and bone marrow or more than 20% basophils in the peripheral blood. A basophil is a special type of white blood cell. These cells sometimes have new cytogenetic changes in addition to the Philadelphia chromosome, because of additional DNA damage and mutations in the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells.
- Blast phase, also called blast crisis: In the blast phase, there are 20% or more blasts in the blood or bone marrow, and it is difficult to control the number of white blood cells. The chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells often have additional genetic changes as well. The blast cells can look like the immature cells seen in patients with other types of leukemia, specifically acute lymphoblastic leukemia for about 25% of patients or acute myeloid leukemia for most patients. Patients in blast phase often have a fever, an enlarged spleen, weight loss, and generally feel unwell.
- Resistant CML: Resistant CML is chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) that has come back after treatment or does not respond to treatment. If the CML does return, there will be another round of tests to learn about the extent of the disease. These tests and scans are often similar to those done at the time of the original diagnosis.
Without effective treatment, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase will eventually move into accelerated phase at first and then into blast phase in about 3 to 4 years after diagnosis. Patients who have more blasts or an increased number of basophils, chromosome changes in addition to the Philadelphia chromosome, high numbers of white blood cells, or a very enlarged spleen often experience blast phase sooner.
Risk Factors of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
The following factors may raise a person’s risk of developing chronic myeloid leukemia (CML):
- Age. The average age of people diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is around 64. chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is uncommon in children and teens.
- Radiation exposure. Many people who were long-term survivors of the 1945 atomic bombings in Japan were diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). In addition, radiation therapy for a condition called ankylosing spondylitis has been linked to chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, there is no proven link between chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and radiation therapy or chemotherapy given for other types of cancer or other diseases.
- Gender. Men are somewhat more likely to develop chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) than women.
Diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Following are the common tests used to diagnose and monitor chronic myeloid leukemia (CML):
- Blood tests: Most patients are diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) through a blood test called a complete blood count (CBA) before they have any symptoms. A CBC counts the number of different kinds of cells in the blood. A CBC is often done as part of a regular medical checkup. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients have high levels of white blood cells. However, white blood cell levels might also be caused by conditions that are not leukemia. When the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) disease is more advanced, there may also be low levels of red blood cells, a condition called anemia, and either high or low numbers of platelets.
- Bone marrow aspiration and Biopsy: These two procedures are similar and often done at the same time to examine the bone marrow. Bone marrow has both a solid and a liquid part. A bone marrow aspiration uses a needle to remove a sample of the fluid containing bone marrow cells. A bone marrow biopsy is the removal of a small amount of solid tissue using a needle. A pathologist then analyzes the samples. A cytogenetic analysis may also be done on the bone marrow samples.A common site for a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy is the iliac crest of the pelvic bone, which is located in the lower back by the hip. A bone marrow biopsy can usually be done in the doctor’s office, without a need to stay in the hospital. Before the procedure, the skin in that area is usually numbed with medication. Other types of anesthesia may also be used.
- Molecular testing: Your doctor may recommend testing the leukemia cells for specific genes, proteins, and other factors unique to the leukemia. Results of these tests can help determine your treatment options.Cytogenetics is a type of genetic testing that is used to analyze a cell’s chromosomes. It looks at the number, size, shape, and arrangement of the chromosomes. Occasionally, this test can be done on the peripheral or circulating blood when the chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is first diagnosed, but immature blood cells that are actively dividing need to be used. Because of this, a bone marrow sample (see above) is usually the best way to get a sample for testing.For most patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), the Philadelphia (Ph+) chromosome and the BCR-ABL fusion gene can be found through testing, which confirms the diagnosis. For a small number of patients, increased blood cell counts may suggest chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but the Philadelphia chromosome cannot be found on the usual tests even though the BCR-ABL fusion gene is there. Treatment for these patients is the same and works as well as it does for patients with a detectable Philadelphia chromosome.
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- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a test used to detect the BCR-ABL gene and to monitor the disease during treatment. This test does not require dividing cells and can be done using a blood sample or bone marrow cells. This test is a more sensitive way to find chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) than the standard cytogenetic tests that identify the Philadelphia chromosome.
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a DNA test that can find the BCR-ABL fusion gene and other molecular abnormalities. PCR tests may also be used to monitor how well treatment is working. This test is quite sensitive and, depending on the technique used, can find 1 abnormal cell mixed in with approximately 1 million healthy cells. This test can be done using a blood sample or bone marrow cells.
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- Imaging tests: Doctors may use imaging tests to find out if the leukemia is affecting other parts of the body. For example, a computed tomography (CAT or CT) scan and ultrasound examination is used to look at and measure the size of the spleen in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
- A CT scan takes pictures of the inside of the body using x-rays taken from different angles. A computer combines these images into a detailed, 3-dimensional image that shows any abnormalities. Sometimes, a special dye called a contrast medium is given before the scan to provide better detail on the image. This dye can be injected into a patient’s vein or given as a liquid to swallow.
- An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create a picture of the inside of the body.
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