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Hairy cell leukemia history and symptoms

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

Overview

Overview

A positive history of splenomegaly or cytopenias is suggestive of hairy cell leukemia. The most common symptoms of hairy cell leukemia include weakness, fatigue, gingival bleeding, epistaxis and menorrhagia.

History and Symptoms

History and Symptoms

History

  • When evaluating a patient for hairy cell leukemia, you should take a detailed history of the presenting symptom (duration, onset, progression), other associated symptoms, and a thorough medication review. Other specific areas of focus when obtaining the history are outlined below:[1]
    • Review any exposure to radiations
    • Review any exposure to herbicides or diesel
    • Review any symptoms of cytopenias
    • Review any recent infections
    • Review any splenomegaly-related symptoms

Common Symptoms

Less Common Symptoms

References

References

  1. “How I diagnose and manage individuals at risk for inherited myeloid malignancies”. Blood. 128 (14): 1800–1813. 2016. doi:10.1182/blood-2016-05-670240. ISSN 0006-4971.
  2. Golomb HM, Catovsky D, Golde DW (November 1978). “Hairy cell leukemia: a clinical review based on 71 cases”. Ann. Intern. Med. 89 (5 Pt 1): 677–83. PMID 717940.
  3. Yonal-Hindilerden I, Hindilerden F, Bulut-Dereli S, Yıldız E, Dogan IO, Nalcaci M (2015). “Hairy Cell Leukemia Presenting with Isolated Skeletal Involvement Successfully Treated by Radiation Therapy and Cladribine: A Case Report and Review of the Literature”. Case Rep Hematol. 2015: 803921. doi:10.1155/2015/803921. PMC 4695657. PMID 26788382.
  4. Frassoldati A, Lamparelli T, Federico M, Annino L, Capnist G, Pagnucco G, Dini E, Resegotti L, Damasio EE, Silingardi V (April 1994). “Hairy cell leukemia: a clinical review based on 725 cases of the Italian Cooperative Group (ICGHCL). Italian Cooperative Group for Hairy Cell Leukemia”. Leuk. Lymphoma. 13 (3–4): 307–16. doi:10.3109/10428199409056295. PMID 7519510.
  5. Westbrook CA, Groopman JE, Golde DW (August 1984). “Hairy cell leukemia. Disease pattern and prognosis”. Cancer. 54 (3): 500–6. PMID 6733679.
  6. Yonal-Hindilerden I, Hindilerden F, Bulut-Dereli S, Yıldız E, Dogan IO, Nalcaci M (2015). “Hairy Cell Leukemia Presenting with Isolated Skeletal Involvement Successfully Treated by Radiation Therapy and Cladribine: A Case Report and Review of the Literature”. Case Rep Hematol. 2015: 803921. doi:10.1155/2015/803921. PMC 4695657. PMID 26788382.


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