Haematopathology
Understanding of haematopathology is important in anatomical pathology, as haematologic malignancies are often in the (clinical) differential diagnosis and may mimic small blue round cell tumours or lobular breast carcinoma.
The lymph node is discussed below; however, details are covered in the lymph node article and lymph node pathology article.
Bone marrow
Bone marrows are important for understanding haematopathology. They are dealt with in the bone article.
Normal lymph node
Microscopic
The microscopic lymph node architecture in described the lymph node article, along with B cell maturation and lymph node cell types.
The cells of the lymph node:
- Germinal center:
- Centrocytes - cleaved nucleus.
- Centroblasts - large dark, mitotically active, medullary aspect of germinal center.
- Tingible body macrophages.
- Follicular dendritic cells.
- Paracortex:
- T lymphocytes.
- Interdigitating dendritic cells.
- Mantle zone:
- Immunoblasts (Memory B cells) - small lymphocytes.
- Medulla:
- B lymphocytes.
- Plasma cells.
Haematologic neoplasia
Historically, haematologic neoplasias were split into leukemia (disease of the bone marrow & blood) and lymphoma (disease in discrete masses -- usually lymph nodes). In the modern day, this distinction has blurred.
Myelodysplastic syndrome
At first approximation, these can be thought of as "pre-leukemia/lymphoma".
Leukemia
These predominantly have blood/bone marrow involvement.
Lymphoma
These form masses. They typically arise from lymph nodes or aggregates of lymphocytes.
Plasma cell lesions
Myeloproliferative neoplasms
This subset of haematopathology includes, among others, polycythemia vera. Historically, these were not classified as neoplasias.
Specific diagnoses
Hemophagocytic syndrome
General
- Rare.
Microscopic
Features:
- Macrophages eat RBCs, WBCs.
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
- Thrombocytopenia due to heparin.[1]
Classification:
- Type 1 - in first two days of exposure - considered non-immune and considered not to be serious.
- Type 2 - in the first 4-10 days - considered serious.
Diagnosis (simplified):
- 50% decline in platelets - within 4-10 days of starting heparin.
- HIT assay - several exist.[1]
Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Commonly abbreviated DIC.
General
- Usually associated with sepsis or septic shock.[2]
Clinical:
- Schistocytes (red blood cell fragmentation).
Gross
Features:[3]
- Pleural petechial haemorrhages.
Microscopic
Features:[4]
- Microvascular occlusion.
Notes:
- Microvascular occlusion is also seen in thrombotic microangiopathies.
Cytometry - population cell marker quantification
Two techniques
- Flow cytometry.
- Laser scanning cytometry (LSC).
Common markers
Normal
- T-cells to B-cells usually 1:1.
- In reactive nodes T-cells predominate.
- Normal thymic tissue has cells that are positive for both CD4 and CD8.
- Kappa (k) and lambda (l) are not expressed by the same cell.
- Rule-of-thumb for normal k:l range is: <6:1 and 1:<3.[5]
- Lambda dominance is less common.
GS guidelines - non-malignant is:[6]
- CD19 ~= CD20.
- CD5 = CD3.
- CD2 > CD3 and CD5.
- CD4 + CD8 ~= CD3.
- CD7 = the smallest number of T-cell.
Abnormal
See cytometry.
Abnormal sign out
Lymph Node, Right Posterior Triangle of Neck, Excision: - Lymphoid tissue with abnormal architecture, predominantly small cells. - Case will be sent to hematopathology for opinion.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1357846-overview. Accessed on: 17 May 2011.
- ↑ URL: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/779097-overview. Accessed on: 23 October 2010.
- ↑ Burton, Julian L.; Rutty, Guy N. (2010). The Hospital Autopsy A Manual of Fundamental Autopsy Practice (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 209. ISBN 978-0340965146.
- ↑ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; Aster, Jon (2009). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 670. ISBN 978-1416031215.
- ↑ SB. March 10, 2010.
- ↑ GS. LSC Procedure. March 11, 2010.