What is?

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common form of leukemia in western countries, where it is estimated that each year between 3 and 5 out of every 100,000 people learn that they have this disease. In general, CLL diagnosis is made in people with no symptoms, who are having blood tests done for other reasons (for instance, glucose or cholesterol tests) when an increase of lymphocytes (a certain type of blood cell) is detected.

The increase of lymphocytes in the blood does not indicate the diagnosis of this type of leukemia, since there are other diseases provoking cell increase, but not the special subtype leading to CLL.