Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is cancer of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes.

See also:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• Leukemia

CLL; Leukemia - chronic lymphocytic (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) causes a slow increase in white blood cells called B lymphocytes, or B cells. The cancerous cells spread from the blood marrow to the blood, and can also affect the lymph nodes or other organs such as the liver and spleen. CLL eventually causes the bone marrow to fail.

IThe cause of CLL is unknown. There is no link to radiation, cancer-causing chemicals, or viruses.

This cancer mostly affects adults, around age 70. It is rarely seen under age 40. The disease is more common in Jewish people of Russian or East European descent.

Images

Antibodies

Auer rods

Bone marrow aspiration

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - microscopic view

Next Section

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Symptoms

Review Date: 03/28/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)