Determining the Clinical Course and Outcome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Abstract
The typical patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) presents to his physician at the time of a routine physical examination as an asymptomatic man who has reached the time in his life when he can enjoy the fruits of his working years. He learns from his physician that he has a somewhat enigmatic type of leukemia, the clinical course and outcome of which vary considerably from patient to patient, and therefore that his outlook is unpredictable. He may be told that some patients live with the disease for decades and die with (and not because of) the disease. He may . . .