title: Fine needle aspiration of the spleen in hairy cell leukemia. A case report.
abstract: Hairy cell leukemia (HCL), or leukemic reticuloendotheliosis, first described by Bouroncle in 1958, is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder of B-cell origin that is manifest primarily in the blood, marrow and spleen. The hairy cells often contain a tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) isoenzyme and show prominent cytoplasmic projections. We report a rare case of hairy cell leukemia wherein the total white blood cell count in the peripheral blood was 20 x 10(9)/L, there were hairy cells in the peripheral blood, and the bone marrow aspirate was a dry tap. Fine needle aspiration of the spleen was performed. The splenic smears showed a monotonous population of abnormal lymphoid cells, some with the hairlike cytoplasmic projections. TRAP staining was positive. HCL must be differentiated from splenic B-cell lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Goa Medical College, Bambolim, India.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Vernekar
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology*; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography