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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffChronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made.
The term "chronic" in chronic lymphocytic leukemia comes from the fact that it typically progresses more slowly than other types of leukemia. The "lymphocytic" in chronic lymphocytic leukemia comes from the cells affected by the disease — a group of white blood cells called lymphocytes, which help your body fight infection.
About 15,000 people receive a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia each year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia most commonly affects older adults, though it may occur at any age and rarely can affect children.
- Montserrat E, et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: A short overview. Annals of Oncology. 2008;19(suppl):vii320.
- Caligaris-Cappio F, et al. Novel insights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Are we getting closer to understanding the pathogenesis of the disease? Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2008;26:4497.
- Elphee EE. Caring for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2008;12:417.
- Dighiero G, et al. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The Lancet. 2008;371(9617):1017.
- Nabhan C, et al. Controversies in the front-line management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Leukemia Research. 2008;32:679.
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment (PDQ) patient version. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/CLL/patient/allpage/print. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
- Hallek M, et al. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A report from the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia updating the National Cancer Institute Working Group 1996 guidelines. Blood. 2008;111:5446.
- SEER stat fact sheets. Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/clyl.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Questions about treatment. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/graphics/National/Allquestionsworksheets/QuestionsabouttreatmentPS172R.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Campath (prescribing information). Cambridge, Mass.: Genzyme Corp.; 2007. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2007/103948s5070lbl.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Rituxan (prescribing information). San Francisco, Calif.: Genentech; 2008. http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2008/103705s5256lbl.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Cancer-related fatigue. Fort Washington, Pa.: National Comprehensive Cancer Network. http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/PDF/fatigue.pdf. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Shanafelt TD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Nov. 12, 2008.
