chronic lymphocytic leukemia n lymphocytic leukemia that is marked by an abnormal increase in the number of mature lymphocytes and esp. B cells, that is characterized by slow onset and progression of symptoms which include anemia, pallor, fatigue, appetite loss, granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen, and that occurs esp. in older adults abbr. CLL compare ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
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(CLL) chronic leukemia of the lymphocytic type, a common form mainly seen in the elderly; symptoms include lymphadenopathy, fatigue, renal involvement, and pulmonary leukemic infiltrates. Circulating malignant cells are usually differentiated B lymphocytes; a minority of cases have mixed T and B lymphocytes or entirely T lymphocytes.Medical dictionary. 2011.