hematology and oncology
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Key Points
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) involves a chromosomal translocation that creates the Philadelphia chromosome, t(9;22) . The peripheral smear (typically showing immature granulocytes, basophilia, and eosinophilia) helps distinguish CML from leukocytosis of other etiologies (eg, leukocytosis due to infection). Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are extremely effective, prolong survival, and may even be curative. Stem cell transplantation can be curative and may help patients who do not respond to tyrosine kinase inhibitors or who progress to accelerated or blast phase. 