title: Haematological classification of the chronic myeloid leukaemias.
abstract: Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) includes five subtypes, and the term should be used in the same way as the term chronic lymphoid leukaemia to refer to a group of related conditions. The subtypes of CML are: 1. Chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) (95% of all CML; 90% are Ph+, BCR+, 5% are Ph-, BCR+); 2. Juvenile CML (extremely rare; Ph-, BCR- in the few so far examined); 3. Chronic neutrophilic leukaemia (CNL) (extremely rare; Ph-, BCR- in the few so far examined); 4. Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML). CMML with low or normal leukocyte counts is classified as a myelodysplastic syndrome; CMML with high leukocyte count is both myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative. Ph-, BCR-; 5. Atypical CML (aCML). Intermediate between CGL and CMML but has distinctive features. Ph-, mostly BCR-. Significance of few reported BCR+ uncertain. Markedly worse survival than CGL and probably worse than CMML. Definition needs refining. Types 2, 3, 4 and 5 account for 5% of all CML. CGL, CMML, aCML and CNL can be diagnosed in the great majority of cases from the morphological profile of presentation peripheral blood films, but high-quality Romanowsky staining is essential.
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ganesan
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Galton
mesh_terms: D001772:Blood Cell Count; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015477:Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D010677:Philadelphia Chromosome; D011379:Prognosis; D014178:Translocation, Genetic