The blood film showed a population of lymphoid cells with ‘hairy projections’. There was absolute monocytopenia. Both of these are consistent with a diagnosis of hairy cell leukaemia. However, hairy cell leukaemia variant and other low grade lymphoma may have similar appearances and the diagnosis needs to be confirmed.

Please review the flow cytometry here:

Questions

• What is the immunophenotype of the abnormal population?
• How else is hairy cell leukaemia diagnosed?
• How is hairy cell leukaemia treated?

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