Richter's transformation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Richter's transformation, or Richter's syndrome (RS) is a rare complication of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or hairy cell leukemia (HCL). With Ricther's, CLL changes into a fast-growing diffuse large B cell lymphoma.[1] It affects perhaps 2% to 8% of CLL patients at some point during their lives.
[edit] Symptoms
Symptoms of Richter’s transformation include fever, loss of weight and muscle mass, and enlarged lymph nodes.[2] Richter's can appear suddenly, even in patients who were in remission. The prognosis is generally poor, and aggressive treatment is usually warranted.
[edit] External links
- Richter syndrome entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
This article includes text from the U.S. National Cancer Institute's public domain Dictionary of Cancer Terms