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A
spinal tap was
ordered to see if the leukemic cells had crossed the
blood/brain
barrier. There
were many
lymphoblasts
in the spinal fluid. In
ALL the leukemic cells are often harbored in the
meninges.
13.
What is a spinal tap or lumbar puncture?
14. Why is a lumbar
puncture performed?
15. What is cerebral spinal fluid?
16.
What chemicals or constituents can be measured from the cerebral
spinal fluid?
Noah was started on chemotherapy
which would kill
as many of the cancer cells as possible. He was also given a
transfusion
of 2 units of packed red blood cells to help alleviate his anemic
condition. Noah was released from the hospital but continued
chemotherapy treatments weekly. After 3 weeks of
chemotherapy treatments, Noah developed a fever of 102°F.
Examination revealed coarse breath sounds in the right anterior
chest. An order was sent to the radiology technician for a series of
chest
radiographs.
17.
What is chemotherapy? How is it given? What are some of
the side effects of chemotherapy?
18. Why did Noah develop a
fever?
19. Why would the physician order a chest x-ray?
20.
What is a chest x-ray?
21. What abnormalities can be
detected from a chest x-ray?
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