Hairy cell leukemia

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Auer rods	Bone marrow aspiration	Enlarged spleen	Formed elements of blood
Hairy cell leukemia - microscopic view

Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis; HCL; Leukemia - hairy cell

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Recurrent infections and fevers
• Excessive sweating (especially at night)
• Swollen lymph glands
• Early satiety (feeling full after eating only a small amount)

• A physical examination can reveal an enlarged spleen or liver
• A bone marrow biopsy shows hairy cells
• A peripheral blood smear may show hairy cells
• A special test done on blood or bone marrow cells (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) can confirm the diagnosis
• An abdominal CT scan shows an enlarged spleen and liver
• A CBC shows low white blood cell count, low red cell count, and low platelets

Review Date: 07/29/2005
Reviewed By: William Matsui, M.D., Assistant Professor of Oncology, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.