hairy cell leukaemia

Last reviewed 01/2018

Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare form of chronic B-cell leukaemia characterised by:

  • pancytopenia
  • splenomegaly
  • an excess of cells with cytoplasmic villi or "hairs" in the bone marrow, spleen and blood

It is an indolent cancer predominantly of middle aged men.

Recent advances suggest a good prognosis.