What is atypical CLL?
Atypical CLL refers to less common variations of chronic lymphocytic leukemia that differ from the standard B-cell CLL that affects most people with this condition.
While B-cell CLL accounts for about 95 percent of cases, there are several rarer subtypes that may behave differently:
B-Cell Subtypes Show Full Answer
What is atypical CLL?
Atypical CLL refers to less common variations of chronic lymphocytic leukemia that differ from the standard B-cell CLL that affects most people with this condition.
While B-cell CLL accounts for about 95 percent of cases, there are several rarer subtypes that may behave differently:
B-Cell Subtypes:
* Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) - affects 1-2% of adults with leukemia, where B cells develop hair-like projections
* B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL) - affects about 1% of people with B-cell leukemia
T-Cell Subtypes:
* T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) - affects about 1% of those with CLL, the most common type involving mature T cells
These atypical forms can have different growth patterns and symptoms. For example, T-PLL is usually aggressive and can cause skin symptoms like rashes or lesions, which aren't typical in standard CLL.
Some atypical forms develop when slow-growing CLL transforms into more aggressive cancer. Because these subtypes are rare, treatment approaches may vary, and doctors often recommend enrolling in clinical trials to access newer therapies.
If you've been told you have atypical CLL, your care team can explain which specific subtype you have and what that means for your treatment plan.
January 13
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