Highlights & Basics
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an indolent hematologic cancer that occurs with increasing age.
- Usually presents with absolute lymphocytosis as an incidental finding on routine complete blood count (CBC) or with asymptomatic lymphadenopathy.
- Diagnosed by CBC with differential, peripheral blood smear, and flow cytometry.
- Variable clinical course with most patients experiencing very slow progressive disease.
- Clinical and laboratory criteria are used to determine treatment approach and prognosis.
Quick Reference
History & Exam
Key Factors
Other Factors
Diagnostics Tests
Treatment Options
Definition
Epidemiology
Etiology
Pathophysiology
Citations
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Walewska R, Parry-Jones N, Eyre TA, et al. Guideline for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Br J Haematol. 2022 Jun;197(5):544-57.[Abstract][Full Text]
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma [internet publication].[Full Text]
Eichhorst B, Robak T, Montserrat E, et al; ESMO Guidelines Committee. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2021 Jan;32(1):23-33.[Abstract][Full Text]
Hallek M, Al-Sawaf O. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: 2022 update on diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Am J Hematol. 2021 Dec 1;96(12):1679-705.[Abstract][Full Text]
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