title: A rare occurrence of hairy cell leukemia in a congolese child: a presentation and challenge of diagnosis in low resource settings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hairy cell leukemia is a rare form of leukemia and has been rarely reported in African and pediatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We are reporting a 4-year-old child who was received for investigation for persistent anemia, prolonged fever, and thrombocytopenia. Bone marrow aspiration showed hypercellular marrow with cells characterized by irregular windblown-appearing cell borders with pseudopod-like projections. Our patient presented with hairy cell leukemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis was thought to be most consistent with hairy cell leukemia based on the distinctive morphology of the cells.
authors: Departments of *Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Haemato-Oncology and Nephrology †Clinic Biology, Division of Laboratory of Haematology, School of Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors: Jean Lambert K
authors: JL
authors: Gini Ehungu
authors: Jean-Pierre N
authors: JP
authors: Mufuta
authors: René M
authors: RM
authors: Ngiyulu
authors: Pépé M
authors: PM
authors: Ekulu
authors: Bertin T
authors: BT
authors: Kadima
authors: Michel N
authors: MN
authors: Aloni
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D003906:Developing Countries; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male