Opinion
Video
Clinical Characteristics Distinguishing CLL and SLL
Key opinion leaders open a discussion surrounding CLL and SLL, and describing unique characteristics of each disease state.
This is a video synopsis/summary of a Peer Exchange involving Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA; Tara Graff, DO, MS; Ryan Jacobs, MD; Deborah Stephens, DO; and Jennifer Woyach, MD.
In this video, Graff provides an overview of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), noting that they are forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma despite the term “leukemia” being used. She explains that while CLL involves malignant lymphocytes floating in the blood and SLL involves malignant lymphocytes in the lymph nodes, many patients have a hybrid of both diseases.
Jacobs then discusses the incidence and prevalence of CLL and SLL. He states that the incidence, or number of new cases per year, of CLL is about 1% of cancer diagnoses annually in the US, and he has not seen data showing this changing over time. However, the prevalence, or number of people living with CLL, is increasing for a few reasons—the aging population, since the average age of diagnosis is around 70 years old, as well as improved treatments helping patients live longer. He notes estimates that CLL prevalence will increase by about 50% from 2015 to 2025.
Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by AJMC® editorial staff.
