Hairy cell leukemia diagnotic study of choice

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2], James Nasr [3]; Grammar Reviewer: Natalie Harpenau, B.S.[4]

Overview

Diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia is based on characteristic morphologic findings together with immunophenotypic and molecular studies.

Diagnostic Study of Choice

Diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia requires immunophenotypic confirmation. ^[1]

Peripheral blood smear examination may provide an initial diagnostic clue.^[2]

The following result of peripheral blood smears is confirmatory of hairy cell leukemia^[2]:

Oval nuclei and abundant clear cytoplasm with “hairy” projections
“Fried egg” appearance
Loose chromatin
Mast cells numbers elevate
Extravasated red cells are positive in peripheral blood smear of hairy cell leukemia patients

References

↑ Grever MR, Abdel-Wahab O, Andritsos LA, Banerji V, Barrientos J, Blachly JS, Call TG, Catovsky D, Dearden C, Demeter J, Else M, Forconi F, Gozzetti A, Ho AD, Johnston JB, Jones J, Juliusson G, Kraut E, Kreitman RJ, Larratt L, Lauria F, Lozanski G, Montserrat E, Parikh SA, Park JH, Polliack A, Quest GR, Rai KR, Ravandi F, Robak T, Saven A, Seymour JF, Tadmor T, Tallman MS, Tam C, Tiacci E, Troussard X, Zent CS, Zenz T, Zinzani PL, Falini B. Consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with classic hairy cell leukemia. Blood. 2017 Feb 2;129(5):553-560. doi: 10.1182/blood-2016-01-689422. Epub 2016 Nov 30. PMID: 27903528; PMCID: PMC5290982.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Wotherspoon A, Attygalle A, Mendes LS. Bone marrow and splenic histology in hairy cell leukaemia. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 2015 Dec;28(4):200-7. doi: 10.1016/j.beha.2015.10.019. Epub 2015 Oct 24. PMID: 26614898.

Overview