It's hard to imagine, but the
same lymphocytic malignancy in two different patients can have
two very different morphologies.
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Lymphocytic leukemia
is a malignancy of lymphocytes with widespread involvement of the bone marrow
and the presence of malignant cells in the peripheral blood.
Lymphoma applies to
lymphocytic neoplasms arising in discrete tissues, such as lymph nodes,
spleen and even bone marrow. Although it can happen, it is unusual to have a
significant leukemic phase.
Both leukemias and lymphomas can be
grouped by cell lineage.
T derived cells
B derived cells
Lymphoid leukemias are grouped by
degree of cell differentiation and expected clinical outcome.
Acute (lymphoblastic, rapid
course if untreated)
Chronic (mature cells,
indolent course)
Immunophenotyping plays an important
role in classification and predicting outcomes.