chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Also known as B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, CLL, chronic lymphatic leukemia, lymphoplasmacytic leukemia, B-cell chronic lymphoid leukemia, B-Cell Chronic Lymphogenous Leukemia,

Key facts

Other names: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL)
Specialty: Hematology and oncology
Symptoms: Early : None , Later : Non-painful lymph nodes swelling, feeling tired, fever, weight loss, night sweats
Usual onset: Older than 50
Risk factors: Family history, tobacco use, Agent Orange , certain insecticides
Diagnostic method: Blood tests
Differential diagnosis: Mononucleosis , hairy cell leukemia , acute lymphocytic leukemia , persistent polyclonal B-cell lymphocytosis
Treatment: Watchful waiting , chemotherapy , immunotherapy , targeted therapy , stem cell transplantation
Prognosis: Five-year survival ~89% (US)
Frequency: 904,000 (2015)
Deaths: 60,700 (2015)

via Wikipedia infobox

Article

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. In CLL, the bone marrow produces too many lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell. B cell lymphocytes can begin to collect in the blood, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow; these cells malfunction and crowd out healthy blood cells. CLL is divided into slow-growing (indolent) and fast-growing variants.

Most individuals have no symptoms when they are first diagnosed with CLL. Around five to 10% of patients may experience fever, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, painless swelling of the lymph nodes, enlargement of the spleen, and/or anemia. These symptoms often worsen over time. Patients with CLL also have an increased risk of developing serious infections. The exact cause of CLL is unknown, but risk factors include a family history of CLL, tobacco use, or environmental exposure to Agent Orange, ionizing radiation, certain insecticides. Diagnosis is typically by testing the blood for high numbers of mature lymphocytes and smudge cells. This is an example of how a smudge cell looks on a peripheral blood smear, which is a common finding in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).