Gen. Info. about CML

[Guest guest]

We have several new patients who have many questions. The following is

general information that we need to know early on in the disease, so that we

might understand better what the doctor tells us and why we take so many tests.

Some patients have bone pain or joint pain caused by leukemia cells spreading

from the marrow cavity to the surface of the bone or into the joint.

Occasionally, CML may also spread to other organs. Blood tests measure the

amount of certain chemicals in the blood, but they are not used to diagnose

leukemia. In patients already known to have CML, these tests help find liver or

kidney problems caused by the spread of leukemia cells or due to the side

effects of certain chemotherapy drugs. These tests also help determine if

treatment is needed to correct low or high blood levels of certain minerals.

An important feature of a bone marrow sample is its cellularity. Normal bone

marrow contains a certain number of blood-forming cells and fat cells. Marrow

with too many blood-forming cells is said to be hypercellular. If too few of

these cells are found, the marrow is called hypocellular. " Do We Know What

Causes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia? " ). (Check this link out for additional

information about CML testing.) This is a useful feature in helping to identify

this type of cancer, as it can often be seen under a microscope. Even when the

Philadelphia chromosome can't be seen, it can often be found by chemical tests.

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH): This is a type of cytogenetic

test. It uses special fluorescent dyes that only attach to specific parts of

chromosomes. FISH can be used to look for specific pieces of the bcr-abl gene on

chromosomes. It can be used on regular blood or bone marrow samples and is very

accurate, which is why this test is now used in many medical centers.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): This is a super-sensitive test for looking

for the bcr-abl oncogene in leukemia cells. It can be done on blood or bone

marrow samples and can detect bcr-abl in very small amounts, even when doctors

can't find the Philadelphia chromosome in bone marrow cells. It can be used to

help diagnose CML and is also useful after treatment to see if copies of the

bcr-abl gene (and hence leukemia cells) are still present.

The CT scan is a type of x-ray test that produces detailed, cross-sectional

images of your body. Unlike a regular x-ray, CT scans can show the detail in

soft tissues (such as internal organs). This test can help tell if any organs in

your body are enlarged. It isn't usually needed to diagnose CML, but it may be

done if your doctor suspects the leukemia is growing in an organ, such as your

spleen. Instead of taking one picture like a regular x-ray, a CT scanner takes

many pictures as it rotates around you. A computer then combines these pictures

into detailed images of the part of your body that is being studied. MRI

scans are very helpful in looking at the brain and spinal cord. MRI scans use

radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio

waves is absorbed by the body and then released in a pattern formed by the type

of body tissue and by certain diseases. A computer translates the pattern into a

very detailed image of parts of the body. ULTRASOUND uses sound waves and their

echoes to produce a picture of internal organs or masses.

Hope you found this helpful,

Lottie

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3x_How_Is_Chronic_Myeloid_Leuk\

emia_CML_Diagnosed.asp