Diagnosing Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
At Sheba Medical Center, a collaborative team of oncologists and hematologists will assess your case thoroughly in order to provide a Diagnosing Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Israel and determine the stage of your disease. The diagnostic part of your cancer care is critical, as it provides essential and detailed information needed to tailor your treatment. The testing procedures that we may perform are outlined below:
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
We will take a blood sample and analyze it to count the number of red blood cells, platelets, and lymphocytes (white blood cells) that it contains. The CBC blood test also evaluates the amount of hemoglobin in red blood cells. An elevated amount of B cells, which are a specific type of lymphocyte, may indicate chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Flow Cytometry (immunophenotyping)
This blood test can help assess whether an increased quantity of lymphocytes is the result of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or whether it is due to a different type of blood disorder or your body’s reaction to infection. If CLL is present, flow cytometry may also help analyze the aggressiveness of the leukemia cells.
Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH)
This test inspects the chromosomes inside the abnormal lymphocytes of CLL, looking for genetic abnormalities. Our doctors may use this information to help design your customized treatment.
IGHV Mutation Analysis
This test looks for the presence or absence of a mutated IGHV (Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Variable) gene. Patients with this mutated gene are generally less likely to develop aggressive CLL and therefore have a better prognosis.
Imaging Tests – CT and PET
Most patients do not require imaging tests, however sometimes our physicians may recommend a PET or CT scan. These procedures record a series of detailed images of the internal body taken from different angles. These images can be used to locate tumor cells or to check whether CLL has evolved into a more aggressive form.
CLL Staging
Once our physicians have determined your precise diagnosis, we will figure out the stage of your CLL – either early, intermediate, or advanced. Typically, early stage CLL does not require immediate treatment, and those with later stages may be provided with options about when to begin treatment and the particular types of therapies.
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Sheba Medical Center provides innovative, personalized medical care to patients from around the world. We are the largest, most comprehensive hospital in the Middle East and dedicated to providing advanced and compassionate medicine for everyone. We welcome all cases, including the rarest and the most challenging. Our medical teams collaborate to provide the best possible health outcomes. From your initial inquiry through the long-term follow-up care, we are here for you.
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