Current approach to the biology and treatment of chronic lymphoid malignancies other than CLL.

A number of discrete disease entities are now well recognised within the lymphoproliferative disorders of B and T lymphocytes. By means of detailed morphologic and immunophenotypic analysis it is possible to distinguish these disorders from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and thereby learn about their biology, natural history and response to treatment. We review here the main diagnostic and therapeutic issues of two B-cell disorders: B-prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL) and splenic lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes (SLVL) and discuss aspects of management and the role of splenectomy and of the nucleoside analog fludarabine in the treatment of B-PLL and SLVL.