Table 2.

Differential diagnosis of CNL (WBC ≥13 × 109/L with neutrophilic predominance)

EntityNeutrophils and bands in bloodImmature granulocytesa in bloodEosinophilsBasophilsMonocytesNeutrophil morphologyMegakaryocytesGene fusionsMutations
CNL ≥80% of WBC <10% of WBC <10% of WBC Usually not increased <10% of WBC Normal Usually normal None CSF3R 
CML Usually <80% of WBC (except with p230 BCR::ABL1 isoform) Usually >10% of WBC Often ≥10% of WBC (especially p190 BCR::ABL1 isoform) Usually increased May be ≥10% of WBC Normal; may be dysplastic in advanced disease Small and dysplastic- appearing BCR::ABL1 No specific 
MLN-E with TK fusions Variable Variable Usually ≥10% of WBC May be increased May be ≥10% of WBC (PDGFRB fusions) Usually normal Variable PDGFRA
PDGFRB
FGFR1
JAK2
FLT3
ABL1 
No specific 
aCML Usually <80% of WBC ≥10% of WBC <10% of WBC Usually not increased <10% of WBC Dysplastic Often small and dysplastic None Often SETBP1, ASXL1, or ETNK1 
MDS/MPN-NOS Variable Variable <10% of WBC Variable <10% of WBC Often dysplastic Often small and dysplastic None No specific 
CMML, myeloproliferative Variable Variable Usually <10% of WBC Usually not increased ≥10% of WBC Often dysplastic Often small and dysplastic None Usually
SRSF2,
ASXL1, or TET2, often in combination 
Classic MPN with neutrophilia Variable Variable Usually <10% of WBC May be increased May be increased May be dysplastic Clustered, large, hyperchromatic None Usually JAK2, CALR, or MPL 
MDS with secondary neutrophilia Variable Often >10% if due to infection Usually <10% of WBC Variable May be increased Often dysplastic Usually small and dysplastic None No specific 
EntityNeutrophils and bands in bloodImmature granulocytesa in bloodEosinophilsBasophilsMonocytesNeutrophil morphologyMegakaryocytesGene fusionsMutations
CNL ≥80% of WBC <10% of WBC <10% of WBC Usually not increased <10% of WBC Normal Usually normal None CSF3R 
CML Usually <80% of WBC (except with p230 BCR::ABL1 isoform) Usually >10% of WBC Often ≥10% of WBC (especially p190 BCR::ABL1 isoform) Usually increased May be ≥10% of WBC Normal; may be dysplastic in advanced disease Small and dysplastic- appearing BCR::ABL1 No specific 
MLN-E with TK fusions Variable Variable Usually ≥10% of WBC May be increased May be ≥10% of WBC (PDGFRB fusions) Usually normal Variable PDGFRA
PDGFRB
FGFR1
JAK2
FLT3
ABL1 
No specific 
aCML Usually <80% of WBC ≥10% of WBC <10% of WBC Usually not increased <10% of WBC Dysplastic Often small and dysplastic None Often SETBP1, ASXL1, or ETNK1 
MDS/MPN-NOS Variable Variable <10% of WBC Variable <10% of WBC Often dysplastic Often small and dysplastic None No specific 
CMML, myeloproliferative Variable Variable Usually <10% of WBC Usually not increased ≥10% of WBC Often dysplastic Often small and dysplastic None Usually
SRSF2,
ASXL1, or TET2, often in combination 
Classic MPN with neutrophilia Variable Variable Usually <10% of WBC May be increased May be increased May be dysplastic Clustered, large, hyperchromatic None Usually JAK2, CALR, or MPL 
MDS with secondary neutrophilia Variable Often >10% if due to infection Usually <10% of WBC Variable May be increased Often dysplastic Usually small and dysplastic None No specific 
a

Myelocytes, metamyelocytes, and promyelocytes.

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