Monotonous and Massive: Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma

A frequent form of adult leukemia may be manifest by an accretion of functionally incompetent lymphocytes gradually within the peripheral blood, bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes which may be designated as a CLL. An annual estimation of 1500 instances may be elucidated with CLL in the developed world. The disease may be detected coincidentally at a median age of 72 years or may clinically manifest with a coexistent tumor encumbrance, autoimmune disorders or infections. An ALC of mature-appearing lymphocytes greater than 5000 cells/μL with an immune reactivity to CD5+, CD19+, CD23+, and a kappa/lambda light chain restriction of the surface immunoglobulin may be delineated. The disorder may be labeled as SLL in situations where the ALC persists below 5000 cells/μL [1]. SLL frequently arises in the middle-aged or elderly individuals and generally elucidates a favorable outcome. It may be discovered coincidentally in lymph nodes examined for suspected carcinomas. The condition may usually be discovered at a median age of 72 years. An estimated 10% of the implicated individuals may be first degree relatives of CLL patients or below 50 years of age [1]. The disease demonstrates a male predominance with a male to female ratio (M:F) of 2:1. The environmental factors engendering the lymphocytic transformation may be indeterminate, though the exposure to agent orange in specific war veterans may be considered [1].