hairy cell leukemia

hairy cell leukemia
hairy cell leukemia n a chronic leukemia that is usu. of B cell origin and is characterized by malignant cells with a ciliated appearance that replace bone marrow and infiltrate the spleen causing splenomegaly

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a form of chronic leukemia marked by splenomegaly and by an abundance of abnormal large mononuclear cells covered by hairlike villi (hairy cells) in the bone marrow, spleen, liver, and peripheral blood. Called also leukemic reticuloendotheliosis.

Hairy cell leukemia, characterized by lymphoid cells with delicate cytoplasmic projections (peripheral blood smear, Wright-Giemsa stain).


Medical dictionary. 2011.

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Hairy cell leukemia — ] It is less common in people of African and Asian descent compared to people of European descent.It does not appear to be hereditary, although occasional familial cases that suggest a predisposition have been reported, [cite web… …   Wikipedia

  • hairy cell leukemia — noun Date: 1970 a chronic leukemia that is usually of B cell origin and is characterized by malignant cells with a ciliated appearance …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • hairy cell leukemia — A rare type of leukemia in which abnormal B lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) are present in the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood. When viewed under a microscope, these cells appear to be covered with tiny hair like projections …   English dictionary of cancer terms

  • hairy cell leukemia — noun : chronic leukemia usually of B cell origin that is characterized by malignant cells with a ciliated appearance that replace bone marrow and infiltrate the spleen causing splenomegaly * * * a form of cancer in which abnormal cells with many… …   Useful english dictionary

  • hairy cell leukemia — a form of cancer in which abnormal cells with many hairlike cytoplasmic projections appear in the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and blood. Also called leukemic reticuloendotheliosis. * * * …   Universalium

  • hairy cell — an abnormal white blood cell that has the appearance of an immature lymphocyte with fine hairlike cytoplasmic projections around the perimeter of the cell. It is found in a rare form of leukaemia (hairy cell leukaemia) most commonly occurring in… …   Medical dictionary

  • B-cell leukemia — Infobox Disease Name = PAGENAME Caption = DiseasesDB = ICD10 = ICD9 = ICDO = OMIM = MedlinePlus = eMedicineSubj = eMedicineTopic = MeshID = D015448 B cell leukemia describes several different types of lymphoid leukemia which affect B cells.Types… …   Wikipedia

  • Leukemia — For the journal, see Leukemia (journal). For animal diseases, see Leucosis. Leukemia Classification and external resources A Wright s stained bone marrow aspirate smear of patient with precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia …   Wikipedia

  • leukemia — Progressive proliferation of abnormal leukocytes found in hemopoietic tissues, other organs, and usually in the blood in increased numbers. L. is classified by the dominant cell type, and by duration from onset to death. This occurs in acute l.… …   Medical dictionary

  • Cell — The basic structural and functional unit in people and all living things. Each cell is a small container of chemicals and water wrapped in a membrane. Each cell in the human body there are 100 trillion cells in each of us contains the entire… …   Medical dictionary

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