Monitoring
Patients might remain in remission for long periods (>10 years) and lead a normal life after initial treatment. However, HCL is an incurable disease.
Patients should be monitored closely for recurrence of disease. Relapse is reported in approximately 50% of patients in long-term studies.[54] European guidelines recommend follow-up of asymptomatic patients every 3-12 months, which should include a complete history, physical examination, a blood cell count, and routine chemistry.[42]
Minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring is not currently recommended in routine clinical practice because its clinical significance is unclear.[86][87]
Long-term survivors are at an increased risk for secondary malignancies, which should be kept in mind during follow-up of these patients.
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