Which term is used for blood cancer?

Appeared in: SGPGI Nursing Officer-2022

Explanation

Leukaemia is the correct medical term for cancers that originate in blood-forming tissues.
It specifically refers to the neoplastic proliferation of white blood cells, which starts primarily in the bone marrow.
These abnormal white blood cells then circulate in the peripheral blood, disrupting the function of normal blood cells.

Option A: Sarcoma is a cancer of connective or mesenchymal tissues, not blood.
Option B: Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is distinct from blood cancer, although both involve white blood cells. Lymphomas typically form solid tumors in lymph nodes.
Option D: Leukoplakia is not a cancer but a precancerous lesion, characterized by white patches on mucous membranes, usually in the mouth.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Terminology of Hematologic Malignancies helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must be able to differentiate between types of cancer to understand the specific signs, symptoms, and treatments. For a patient with leukaemia, a nurse's primary focus is on managing the consequences of bone marrow failure.
Key nursing assessments for a patient with suspected or diagnosed leukaemia include monitoring for signs of infection (fever, chills), bleeding (petechiae, ecchymosis, bleeding gums), and anemia (fatigue, shortness of breath).
What if? If a patient presents with a large, painless, swollen lymph node in their neck but their blood count is initially normal, the priority suspicion would shift from leukaemia to lymphoma, prompting a different diagnostic path (e.g., lymph node biopsy instead of immediate bone marrow aspiration).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core subject of the question, which is 'blood cancer'.
This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of medical terminology.
Analyze each option's root word. 'Leuk-' is a prefix related to white blood cells, and '-emia' relates to a condition of the blood. This is a strong clue.
Evaluate the other options: 'Sarcoma' relates to connective tissue, 'Lymphoma' to the lymphatic system, and 'Leukoplakia' to white patches.
Based on the definitions, conclude that Leukaemia is the most specific and correct term for cancer originating in the blood-forming tissues.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 PATHOLOGY QUICK REVIEWBased on Harsh Mohan Textbook of PATHOLOGY p. 117-119

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 595-597

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Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.