CLL Staging

Many doctors use a system called staging to help predict the likely outcome of the disease and to plan treatment for people with CLL. There are three staging systems that doctors use: the Rai staging system, the Binet staging system and the CLL International Prognostic Index (CLL-IPI). Although the Rai and Binet staging systems are still widely used, they have certain limitations in predicting which patients will have a more aggressive disease. Gene mutations and chromosomal abnormalities of CLL have been integrated into the CLL-IPI to help better predict a patient's risk factors and response to
therapy. Talk to your doctor about what staging system they are using and how it can affect your treatment.

Staging systems for CLL consider:

  • Abnormal increase in number of lymphocytes (lymphocytosis)
  • Presence of enlarged lymph nodes
  • Presence of enlarged spleen and/or liver
  • Presence of anemia (abnormal decrease in the number of red blood cells)
  • Presence of thrombocytopenia (abnormal decrease in the number of platelets)
  • Genetic features (CLL-IPL staging system only) 
     

For more detailed information about CLL staging systems, view Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: In Detail.

 

Related Links