Summary Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer of the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). It begins in the stem cells of the bone marrow and then spreads to the blood. Over time, CLL may also spread to the lymph nodes and other organs, including the...

Who Is at Risk? Carcinogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV) are the primary, etiologic, infectious agents that cause virtually all cases of cervical cancer. HPV type 16 (HPV-16) and HPV type 18 (HPV-18) are most often associated with invasive disease.[1,2]...

Screening With the Papanicolaou (Pap) Test: Benefits Based on solid evidence, regular screening of appropriate women for cervical cancer with the Pap test reduces mortality from cervical cancer. The benefits of screening women younger than 21 years are small because...

What is celiac disease? Celiac disease is a digestive disorder that damages the small intestine. The disease is triggered by eating foods containing gluten. Gluten is a protein found naturally in wheat, barley, and rye, and is common in foods such as bread, pasta,...

Description Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease that affects motor neurons, which are specialized nerve cells that control muscle movement. These nerve cells are found in the spinal cord and the brain. In ALS, motor neurons die (atrophy) over...