About P. Ravi Sarma <B>MD</B> Expertise I am board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Geriatrics. I was on the faculty of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta from 1979 to 1995, holding the position of Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology and Oncology) at the univerisity and Associate Professor of Human Oncology at the Winship Cancer Center at the time of my leaving Emory.I have been in private practice since 1995 in Metro Atlanta area in Gwinnett county. Our group consists of four oncologists, with three offices in Gwinnett County, Ga.
Experience worked on and published several papers in the area of clinical oncology.
The type of cells involved in Lymphocytic Leukaemia are Lymphocytes; the type of cells involved in Lymphoma are also Lymphocytes – what then is the difference between these two conditions?
Also there seem to be a lot of cancers involving white blood cells – is there such a thing as cancer of the red blood cells or of platelets? And if not, why not?
Thanks
Charles
Answer There are many types of lymphocytes. (usually B cells and T cells) These cells normally circulate in the body in the blood system and in the lymph system. They go through filters called lymph nodes and also go through other "lymphoid" organs such as tonsils and spleen. Bone marrow is also a place where lymphocytes are normally found.
In lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphocyte, the cells tend to gather in the lymph nodes. In leukemia, a cancer of the lymphocyte, the lymphocytes freely circulate in the blood. In leukemias we find cancerous lymphocytes in lymph nodes and in lymphoma, we can find cancerous lymphocytes in the blood.
Sometimes, we use the term "leukemic phase" of lymphoma and less commonly we find lymphoma like presentation of lymphoma.
There is a condition called "Myelo-proliferative disorder" which is a disease that involves red cells, platelets and white blood cells. Many times the change is neoplastic (tumorlike) but the behaviour is not as rapid as seen in cancers. some terms used are Polycythemia (for red blood cells) ET (for platelets) and CML-Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia for white blood cells. There is a condition called Erythro-Leukemia which is a rapidly fatal blood cancer, that involves cancerous changes in the red blood cells.
