Leukemic reticuloendotheliosis; HCL; Leukemia - hairy cell

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

During a physical exam, the doctor may be able to feel a swollen spleen or liver. An abdominal CT scan may be done to evaluate this swelling.

A complete blood count usually shows low levels of white and red blood cells as well as platelets.

Blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy can detect hairy cells. Flow cytometry or a test called tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) can confirm the cancer diagnosis.

Images

Auer rods

Enlarged spleen

Bone marrow aspiration

Formed elements of blood

Hairy cell leukemia - microscopic view

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Hairy cell leukemia Treatment

Review Date: 09/06/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)