Prolymphocytic leukemia

The prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL ) is a very rare malignancy of the lymphatic system. It is counted among the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas ( NHLs ). Depending on whether the cells have a B- or T- line immunophenotype line immunophenotype, is called B- PLL and T - PLL. The B- PLL is much more common than the T - PLL.

The disease occurs almost only in advanced age (> 60 J) and more common in men. The disease is similar in some aspects of the ( much more frequent ) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL ), but usually shows the PLL a more aggressive course. It is often characterized by very high lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood (up to several 100.000/μl, normal value: approx 4.000/μl ). Morphologically it is in the cells while significantly more than 50 percent ( usually> 90%) immature lymphocyte precursors, so-called prolymphocytes. Lymphadenopathy are less common than in CLL. Frequently a pronounced enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly ) is available.

The prognosis of the disease is much more unfavorable than that of CLL and the disease must be treated intensively in the rule than the CLL. A complete cure can ( already due to the advanced age of the patient ) can not be achieved, goal of treatment is to stop the progression of the disease as possible or to brake.

Literature and sources

• Jaffe E, Harris NL, Stein H, Vardiman JW ( eds ): Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of Haemopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues. IARC Press: Lyon 2001

• Non -Hodgkin's lymphoma
• Leukemia