Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Introduction

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer of the white blood cells and bone marrow. The bone marrow is the spongy inner part of bones where blood cells are produced. White blood cells arise from the marrow and circulate in the blood. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by uncontrolled growth of blood cells.

Many cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia are detected by routine blood tests in persons with no symptoms, however, patients may have enlarged lymph nodes, enlarged liver and spleen, fatigue, bone pain, excessive sweating, loss of appetite, weight loss, flank pain, and generalized itching. Abnormal bruising, which is a more well known symptom of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, often does not appear until late in the illness.

Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly than acute leukemia. In leukemia, non-functioning cells accumulate in the marrow and blood but chronic leukemia enables the body to make greater numbers of more mature functional cells. The word "lymphocytic" in the term "chronic lymphocytic leukemia" refers to one of the three types of white blood cells involved in this disease.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) affects a type of lymphocyte called the B lymphocytes and causes suppression of the immune system, failure of the bone marrow, and infiltration of malignant cells into organs. Although chronic lymphocytic leukemia starts in the bone marrow, it can spread to the blood, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, central nervous system (CNS), and other organs. It does not usually form a solid mass or tumor.

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