Hairy cell leukemia variant

Abstract

Hairy cell leukemia variant (HCLv) is a rare entity (10% of hairy cell leukemia cases) whose diagnostic criteria and appropriate treatment are still uncertain. In this report we aim to add a description of the splenic histology, and extend our knowledge of HCLv. We describe one case of this entity for which a splenic histology was available. It fulfilled all the diagnostic criteria for HCLv, exhibiting a characteristic pattern of splenic infiltration, and responded favorably to treatment. The case described seems to fit well with HCLv where neither morphology nor immunophenotype bears any relation with hairy cell leukemia. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.