Chronic myeloid leukaemia: diagnosis and management

Chronic myeloid leukaemia is a common malignancy worldwide. We have come a long way from the limited treatment options and survival in this condition. Today, CML is a treatable malignancy with more than 80% patients surviving beyond 10 years after diagnosis, in absence of complications. This presentation deals with the definition, diagnostic criteria of chronic phase, accelerated and blastic phase (MD Anderson cancer centre, International bone marrow transplant registry and the WHO for the latter two) and management (first and second generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors) of this condition. Finally, a stepwise approach to chronic myeloid leukaemia is also presented including the definitive modality of treatment, allogeneic stem cell transplantation.