This publication provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of the significance of cytogenetic and molecular genetic abnormalities in the chronic myeloid leukaemias and other myeloproliferative disorders. Subjects discussed include polycythaemia vera, essential thrombocythaemia, 'idiopathic' myelofibrosis and BCR-ABL-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia. The role of cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis in monitoring residual disease in chronic myeloid leukaemia is also comprehensively covered. In addition, the less common entities of the 8p11 syndrome, systemic mastocytosis, eosinophilic leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia associated with t(5;12) are reviewed in detail. With the development of drugs with a specific molecular target, molecular aspects of chronic leukaemias will become increasingly relevant to the practice of haematology, making this publication very timely. The contributing authors include leaders in the fields of haematology and cytogenetics who have carefully reviewed and updated published data and drawn on their own considerable experience. This book will therefore be a reference text, not only for haematologists, but also for molecular geneticists and cytogeneticists, and anyone involved in leukaemia research.