ABSTRACT
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of B
lymphocytes (mature B-cell neoplasm). Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is considered
the same disease in a nonleukemic form (1,2). The progressive accumulation of monoclonal
B lymphocytes leads to leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and bone
marrow failure and is sometimes associated with autoimmune disease.
