Topic overview

Start with the big picture

A useful starting framework for leukemia is cell lineage—lymphoid or myeloid—and tempo, acute or chronic. The lesson applies this framework to ALL, AML, CLL/SLL, and CML, highlighting distinguishing findings such as blasts, smudge cells, Auer rods, and BCR-ABL. Lymphomas are approached through their patterns of spread, defining cells or markers, and characteristic associations. Hodgkin lymphoma is distinguished from the broader non-Hodgkin groups, with selected entities linked to hallmark translocations and features—for example, Burkitt lymphoma with c-MYC activation and a starry-sky appearance, and follicular lymphoma with BCL2 overexpression. B symptoms and transformation are also introduced as clinically relevant features.