The hallmark feature of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is what?

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Multiple Choice

The hallmark feature of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is what?

Lymphocytosis is the hallmark. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a clonal proliferation of mature-appearing B lymphocytes that leads to a persistently elevated absolute lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood, typically above 5 x 10^9/L. Many patients are older and asymptomatic, with the diagnosis often made on routine blood work; the smear may show fragile lymphocytes and smudge cells. As the disease progresses, marrow involvement can cause anemia or thrombocytopenia, but the defining feature at presentation is the persistent lymphocytosis rather than blasts or cytopenias. The other options point to different disorders. Pancytopenia with circulating blasts suggests an acute leukemia rather than CLL. The Philadelphia chromosome is characteristic of chronic myeloid leukemia. Bone marrow fibrosis is more associated with myelofibrosis or other myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Lymphocytosis is the hallmark. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a clonal proliferation of mature-appearing B lymphocytes that leads to a persistently elevated absolute lymphocyte count in the peripheral blood, typically above 5 x 10^9/L. Many patients are older and asymptomatic, with the diagnosis often made on routine blood work; the smear may show fragile lymphocytes and smudge cells. As the disease progresses, marrow involvement can cause anemia or thrombocytopenia, but the defining feature at presentation is the persistent lymphocytosis rather than blasts or cytopenias.

The other options point to different disorders. Pancytopenia with circulating blasts suggests an acute leukemia rather than CLL. The Philadelphia chromosome is characteristic of chronic myeloid leukemia. Bone marrow fibrosis is more associated with myelofibrosis or other myeloproliferative neoplasms.

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