Hematopathology
You don't need to be Editor-In-Chief to add or edit content to WikiDoc. You can begin to add to or edit text on this WikiDoc page by clicking on the edit button at the top of this page. Next enter or edit the information that you would like to appear here. Once you are done editing, scroll down and click the Save page button at the bottom of the page.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-525-6884
Please Take Over This Page and Apply to be Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
Hematopathology is the branch of pathology which studies diseases of hematopoietic cells (see below). A hematopathologist looks at peripheral blood smears, bone marrow aspirates and biopsies, lymph nodes, and other tissues, and uses his/her expertise to diagnose diseases such as lymphomas and leukemias. The hematopathologist uses traditional microscopy to look at the specimen, but also relies on laboratory values, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and molecular diagnostic tests to make the most accurate diagnosis. The hematopathologist works closely with the hematologist/oncologist specialty doctor who sees the patient and decides on the best treatment based upon the diagnosis.
Diseases of Hematopoietic Cells
The major disease of hematopoietic cells fall into several categories, which include chronic myeloproliferative disease, myelodysplastic syndromes, leukemias, lymphomas, plasma cell neoplasms, and histiocytic and mast cell neoplasms. Hematopathologists from all over the world have agreed on a standard classification system, called the "WHO classification".[1] Leukemias are mainly bone marrow and blood based and can be subclassified as chronic leukemia and acute leukemia. Chronic leukemia is the proliferation of too many mature blood cells, and is called that because it is a chronic process clinically. Examples are chronic myelogenous leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Acute leukemia is the proliferation of too many immature blood cells, called myeloblasts, which have lost the ability to become mature cells. This is usually a very aggressive disease if untreated. Fortunately, treatment of both types of leukemia has improved greatly over the past few decades. Lymphomas are diseases that are mainly based in lymph nodes. Hematopathologists have named different lymphomas after the type of lymphocyte that has become malignant. Thus there are B cell lymphomas, T cell lymphomas, and NK cell lymphomas. The hematopathologist uses immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, techniques using antibodies to specific lymphocyte surface markers, to determine the type of lymphoma in the pathology specimen.
Notes
- ↑ Jaffe, ES, Harris, NL, Stein, H., and Vardiman, JW, eds. Pathology and Genetics: Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues, World Health Organization Classification of Tumors Series. Lyon: IARC Press, 2001.
External links
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
