Oncological damage to lymphatic tissues and certain organs is called lymphatic leukemia. The disease is characterized by an increased accumulation of white blood cells in biological fluids, bone marrow, liver and spleen. In order to successfully combat pathology, it is necessary to diagnose lymphocytic leukemia in time - the symptoms manifest themselves more quickly in the acute form of the disease, but the chronic type can be easily determined.
Signs of acute lymphocytic leukemia
Clinical manifestations of cancer are different depending on the nature of the disease.
In acute form, lymphoblastic leukemia has a pronounced symptomatology:
- increase in the size of the spleen and lymph nodes;
- sudden increase in body temperature;
- frequent bleeding, usually spontaneous and for no apparent reason;
- convulsions;
- pallor of the skin;
- dry cough accompanied by shortness of breath;
- pain in the abdomen, bones and large joints;
- anemia;
- feverish conditions.
When the central nervous system is affected, there is also severe headache, irritability, vomiting and dizziness.
The blood picture in acute lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by the accumulation of immature blast cells (the precursors of lymphocytes) in the bone marrow and blood. There are also changes in the composition of the peripheral biological fluid. The blood smear differs from normal indices by the absence of intermediate stages of cell development, there are only fully mature components and blasts.
Other symptoms of lymphatic leukemia in accordance with blood analysis:
- thrombocytopenia;
- leukocytosis;
- normochromic anemia;
- leukopenia .
Symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia
The considered form of the disease is diagnosed most often, especially in women older than 55 years.
Unfortunately, the clinical manifestations of the chronic ailment become noticeable only in the late stages, since this type of lymphocytic leukemia develops very slowly and is hardly noticeable at early stages.
Symptoms of pathology are very diverse:
- weight loss;
- propensity to frequent infections of infectious and viral diseases due to deterioration in the functioning of immunity;
- an increase in the size of the lymph nodes;
- loss of appetite, until complete refusal to eat, anorexia;
- malaise and weakness;
- severity in the stomach and in the region of the spleen;
- asthenia (muscle weakness);
- hepatomegaly (increase in liver volume) and splenomegaly (increase in the size of the spleen);
- severe sweating, usually occurs at night;
- allergic reactions to a large number of irritants;
- anemia ;
- shortness of breath with minor physical exertion.
The blood test for lymphatic leukemia in chronic form is also characterized by neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. This means a sharp pathological decrease in the number of neutrophils (less than 500 in 1 cubic millimeter) and platelets (less than 200
Tumor lymphocytes accumulate in the lymph nodes, peripheral blood, and bone marrow. Organically, they are fully ripe, but are unable to perform their direct functions, and therefore are considered inferior.
It is worth noting that due to the gradual increase in lymphocytes, they eventually completely replace the cells of the bone marrow (by 80-90%). Nevertheless, the production of normal tissues can not be slowed down, hindering the development of anemia and greatly complicating the diagnosis of the disease.