How Is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Diagnosed?

Listen to Dr. Rosen share the test used to diagnose patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/CLL and describe the symptoms.

Dr. Rosen:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, in most instances in the year 2009, will be detected by a routine blood test. The individual will be asymptomatic, and an elevated lymphocyte count would be noted. This is a disease that often is very indolent in its progression.

In the majority of instances, patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia are totally asymptomatic. There are some instances where they may feel an enlarged lymph node. Fever, chills, and sweats are a late manifestation. Loss of appetite is a late manifestation in the disease, as is weight loss or abdominal distention.

About Dr. Steven Rosen, M.D., F.A.C.P:
Steven Rosen, M.D., F.A.C.P., is Genevieve Teuton Professor of Medicine, at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and Director of Cancer Programs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Following his graduation with distinction from Northwestern University Medical School's Six-Year Honors Program in 1976, Dr. Rosen completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern and a fellowship in Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Rosen's laboratory research focuses on experimental therapeutics and hematologic malignancies.

Visit Dr. Rosen at Northwestern Memorial Hospital