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PA18.1-2 | Welcome to Chronic Leukaemias — CML & CLL
Learning Objectives
- Explain the molecular pathogenesis of CML, including the Philadelphia chromosome and BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase.
- Describe the clinical phases of CML and their haematologic correlates.
- Outline the pathogenesis, clinical features, and blood picture of CLL, including smudge cells.
- Distinguish CML, CLL, and leukaemoid reaction using the LAP score and morphological criteria.
- Summarise staging systems for CLL (Rai/Binet) and the significance of Richter transformation.
- Briefly describe the chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (PV, ET, PMF) and the JAK2 V617F mutation.
INSTRUCTIONS
Chronic leukaemias are the most clinically deceptive malignancies — they can persist for years before symptoms emerge. Understanding the precise molecular defects that drive CML and CLL transforms your ability to explain targeted therapy (imatinib), predict disease evolution, and interpret a blood film that arrives in your clinical career. This module closes the leukaemia arc of Cluster H7, building directly on the acute leukaemias covered in SDL 2.
References
- Robbins & Kumar: Basic Pathology, 11th ed., Ch 12 — White Cell Disorders (textbook)
- Harsh Mohan: Textbook of Pathology, 8th ed., Ch 13 — Disorders of White Blood Cells (textbook)
Version 2.0 | NMC CBUC 2024