Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination

Jump to navigation Jump to search
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Acute promyelocytic leukemia from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Other Imaging Studies

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Interventions

Surgery

Primary PreventionSurgery

Secondary PreventionSurgery

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination

CDC on Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination

Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination in the news

Blogs on Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination

Directions to Hospitals Treating Acute promyelocytic leukemia

Risk calculators and risk factors for Acute promyelocytic leukemia physical examination

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shyam Patel [2], Sogand Goudarzi, MD [3]; Grammar Reviewer: Natalie Harpenau, B.S.[4]

Overview

The physical examination findings in acute promyelocytic leukemia include petechiae, ecchymoses, mucosal bleeding, splenomegaly, and/or pallor. The bleeding-related physical examination findings have a higher specificity for acute promyelocytic leukemia compared to other types of leukemia.

Physical examination

  • Petechiae: Petechiae are pinpoint hemorrhages in the skin. Petechiae are a result of the coagulopathy (disseminated intravascular coagulation) of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Compared to patients with other types of leukemia, patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia is more likely to present with petechiae.[1]
  • Ecchymoses: Ecchymoses are larger hemorrhages in the skin. Ecchymoses are also known as purpura. Patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia are more likely to have ecchymoses compared to patients with other types of leukemia.
  • Mucosal bleeding: Bleeding from the nares, oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and urinary bleeding is common in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.[2]
  • Splenomegaly: In some cases, patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia can have enlarged spleens. This is a result of extramedullary hematopoiesis (blood cell production in areas other than the bone marrow. Splenomegaly can cause abdominal discomfort.
  • Pallor: Pallor, or paleness of the skin, is due to the development of anemia, which commonly occurs in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia.[2]

References

  1. Suárez-Cuenca JA, Arellano-Sánchez JL, Scherling-Ocampo AA, Sánchez-Hernández G, Pérez-Guevara D, Chalapud-Revelo JR (November 2009). "Rapidly progressing, fatal and acute promyelocytic leukaemia that initially manifested as a painful third molar: a case report". J Med Case Rep. 3: 102. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-3-102. PMC 2783043. PMID 19946580.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Hu R, Wu Y, Jiang X, Zhang W, Xu L (2011). "Clinical symptoms and chemotherapy completion in elderly patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia: a retrospective comparison study with a younger cohort". BMC Cancer. 11: 224. doi:10.1186/1471-2407-11-224. PMC 3130702. PMID 21645417.

Template:WH Template:WS