Your
child's doctor will perform a physical examination to check for signs of
infection, anemia, abnormal bleeding, and swollen lymph nodes. The doctor will
also feel your child's abdomen to see if there is an enlarged liver or spleen
because they can become enlarged with some cancers in children.
In
addition to doing a physical exam, the doctor will take a medical history by
asking you about symptoms, past health, your family's health history,
medications your child is taking, allergies, and other issues.
After
this exam, the doctor will order a CBC (complete blood count) to measure the
numbers of white cells, red cells, and platelets in your child's blood. A blood
smear will be examined under a microscope to check for certain specific types
of abnormal blood cells usually seen in patients with leukemia. Blood
chemistries will also be checked.
Then,
depending on the results of the physical exam and preliminary blood tests, your
child may need:
·
a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration, in which marrow samples are removed
(usually from the back of the hip) for testing
·
a lymph node biopsy, in which lymph nodes are removed and examined
under a microscope to look for abnormal cells
·
a lumbar puncture (spinal tap), where a sample of spinal
fluid is removed from the lower back and examined for evidence of abnormal
cells. This will show whether the leukemia has spread to the central nervous
system (brain and
spinal cord).
Bone
marrow or lymph node samples will be examined and additional testing done to
determine the specific type of leukemia. In addition to these basic lab tests,
cell evaluations might be done, including genetic studies to distinguish
between specific types of leukemia and certain features of the leukemia cells.
Kids will receive anesthesia or sedative medications for any painful procedures.
Courtesy:
kidshealth.org
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