Hairy Cell Leukemia
Definition
Hairy cell leukemia is a disease in which a type of white blood cell called the lymphocyte, present in the blood and bone marrow, becomes malignant and proliferates. It is called hairy cell leukemia because the cells have tiny hair-like projections when viewed under the microscope.
Description
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare cancer. It was first described in 1958 as leukemic reticuloendotheliosis, erroneously referring to a red blood cell because researchers were unsure of the cell of origin. It became more easily identifiable in the 1970s. There are approximately 600 new cases diagnosed every year in the United States, making up about 2% of the adult cases of leukemia each year.
HCL is found in cells located in the blood. There are three types of cells found in the blood: the red blood cells that carry oxygen to all the...
[The entire page is 2010 words long]
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