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The diagnosis and prognosis of leukemia includes the following:
The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. He or she will inquire about any exposures to radiation or chemicals. Some early studies showed a possible link between exposure to chemicals such as benzene and other toxins and leukemia. Further research has shown an association between radiation and leukemia. This includes a very slight increased risk of leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) following therapeutic radiation given to treat other cancers.
The doctor will perform a physical exam, checking for bruising. Bruising without known injury may be a sign of leukemia.
To make a diagnosis of leukemia, the following testing will be done:
Blood Tests – a sample of your blood is checked for leukemia cells. Another blood test may be done to look for specific genes or cell surface markers associated with leukemia.
Bone Marrow Aspiration – a sample of liquid bone marrow is removed and tested for malignant cells. The sample is obtained by inserting a needle into the pelvic bone. This may be done in the hospital or outpatient setting. Aspirate samples will be sent for chromosome and DNA analysis and flow cytometry to determine what type of leukemia is present.
Bone Marrow Biopsy – a sample of bone marrow and a small piece of bone are removed and tested for cancer cells. The samples are obtained by inserting a needle into the pelvic bone. This may be done in the hospital or outpatient setting.
If the bone marrow biopsy shows leukemia cells, additional tests may be done to determine if the disease has spread and what systems are affected. These tests may include the following:
Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) – removal of a small amount of fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord to test for cancer cells. A needle is inserted between the third and fourth lumbar vertebrae in the back to extract a sample of fluid.
Chest X-rays – a series of standard x-ray images of your chest. These x-rays help to determine if infection is present at diagnosis. X-rays may occasionally demonstrate enlarged lymph nodes, but are of limited value in determining the extent of leukemia.
Cytology is the study of cells. The cytology of cancer cells differs significantly from normal cells, and physicians use the unique cellular features seen on biopsy samples to determine the diagnosis and assess the prognosis of a cancer.
The pathologist will examine the cells in the sample removed from your bone marrow. The number of immature cells determines if leukemia is present. The doctor will use stains to help differentiate the types of cancer cells present. Precise classification of the type of leukemia also requires immunophenotyping. Immunophenotyping is a procedure that determines what subtype of leukemia a patient has. This test identifies the surface characteristics of the cancer cells. Subtyping helps determine the appropriate treatment.
Staging is the process by which physicians determine the prognosis of a cancer that has already been diagnosed. Acute leukemia is not staged, because it involves bone marrow throughout the body and often has spread to other organs. Doctors do classify it by type and subtype in an attempt to determine prognosis and the appropriate treatment.
Doctors classify acute leukemias by type and subtype in an attempt to determine prognosis and appropriate treatment.
Acute myelogenous leukemia is classified by the type of cell into the following subtypes:
Acute lymphocytic leukemia is classified as follows:
Chronic myelogenous leukemia is grouped by phases:
In the United States, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is defined with the Rai classification:
Prognosis is a forecast of the probable course and/or outcome of a disease or condition. Prognosis is most often expressed as the percentage of patients who are expected to survive over five or ten years. Cancer prognosis is a notoriously inexact process. This is because the predictions are based on the experience of large groups of patients suffering from cancers at various stages. Using this information to predict the future of an individual patient is always imperfect and often flawed, but it is the only method available. Prognoses provided in this monograph and elsewhere should always be interpreted with this limitation in mind. They may or may not reflect your unique situation.
Prognosis for the four main types of leukemia are as follows:
AML - Complete remission is possible in about 60% of all patients and in 80% of young adults. Between 15% and 50% of these patients will survive long-term.
ALL - Varies from poor to excellent prognosis depending on the age of the patient. Adult ALL is usually an aggressive disease, while childhood ALL is highly curable.
CML - About half of patients of CML live six to seven years after diagnosis.
CLL - The disease cannot be cured with current treatments, however, survival varies greatly depending on Rai stage at time of diagnosis.
Sources:
National Cancer Institute
American Cancer Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Goldman L. Cecil Textbook of Medicine , 21st ed. St. Louis, MO: W.B. Saunders Company; 2000: 944-958.
Rakel, R. Conn's Current Therapy 2002, 54th ed., St. Louis, MO: W. B. Saunders Company; 2002: 413-434.
Bast R, et al. Cancer Medicine e5 . Hamilton, Ontario: B.C. Decker Inc.; 2000.
Last reviewed February 2003 by John Erban, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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