
Figure 1. Blood smear showing CLL.
According to guidelines from the International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, the presence of ≥ 5 × 109/L B lymphocytes in the peripheral blood, sustained for ≥ 3 months, is required for a diagnosis of CLL. Immunoglobulin light chain restriction using flow cytometry must be used to confirm the clonality of these B lymphocytes. Leukemia cells found in the blood smear are typically small, mature lymphocytes with a narrow border of cytoplasm, as well as a dense nucleus without discernable nucleoli and partially aggregated chromatin.
Learn more about the workup for CLL.
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Cite this: Mohammad Muhsin Chisti. Fast Five Quiz: Workup for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - Medscape - Nov 30, 2021.
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