“Smudge cells” in the peripheral smear are characteristic of:: (A) Chronic myelogenous leukemia, (B) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, (C) Acute myelogenous leukemia, (D) Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Answer is B. In CLL, the peripheral blood contains increased numbers of small, round lymphocytes with scant cytoplasm. These cells are fragile and are frequently disrupted in the process of making smears, producing so-called smudge cells.