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Treatment
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Hairy cell leukemia is a type of
cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type
of white blood cell).
Hairy
cell leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This rare
type of leukemia gets worse slowly or not at all. The disease is
called hairy cell leukemia because the leukemia cells look "hairy"
when viewed under a microscope.
Normally,
the bone marrow produces stem cells (immature cells) that develop
into mature blood cells. There are 3 types of mature blood cells:
-
Red blood
cells that carry oxygen and other materials to all tissues of the
body.
-
White
blood cells that fight infection and disease.
-
Platelets
that help prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form.
In hairy
cell leukemia, too many stem cells develop into a type of white
blood cell called lymphocytes. These lymphocytes may also be called
leukemic cells. There are 3 types of lymphocytes.
-
B
lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection. -
T
lymphocytes that help B lymphocytes make antibodies to help
fight infection. -
Natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses.
In hairy
cell leukemia, the B lymphocytes do not work normally. Also, as the
number of lymphocytes increases in the blood and bone marrow, there
is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and
platelets. This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. Some
of the leukemia cells may collect in the spleen and cause it to
swell.
Gender and age may affect the risk of
developing hairy cell leukemia.
The cause
of hairy cell leukemia is unknown. It occurs more often in older
men.
Possible signs of hairy cell leukemia
include tiredness, infections, and pain below the ribs.
These and
other symptoms may be caused by hairy cell leukemia. Other
conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted
if any of the following problems occur:
-
Weakness or
feeling tired. -
Fever or
frequent infections. -
Easy bruising
or bleeding. -
Shortness of
breath. -
Weight loss
for no known reason. -
Pain or a
feeling of fullness below the ribs. -
Painless
lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.
Tests that examine the blood and bone
marrow are used to detect (find) and diagnose hairy cell leukemia.
The
following tests and procedures may be used:
-
Physical
exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of
health, including checking for signs of disease, such as a swollen
spleen, lumps, or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the
patient’s health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also
be taken.
-
Complete
blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn
and checked for the following:
-
The
number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
-
The
amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the
red blood cells.
-
The
portion of the sample made up of red blood cells.
-
Peripheral blood smear: A procedure in which a sample of blood is
checked for cells that look "hairy," the number and kinds of white
blood cells, the number of platelets, and changes in the shape of
blood cells. -
Bone
marrow biopsy: The removal of a small piece of bone and bone marrow
by inserting a needle into the hipbone or breastbone. A pathologist
views both the bone and bone marrow samples under a microscope to
look for signs of cancer.
-
Immunophenotyping: A test in which the cells in a sample of blood or
bone marrow are looked at under a microscope to check the pattern of
proteins that are on the surface of the cells. Hairy cells have a
certain pattern. -
CT scan
(CAT scan): A procedure that makes a series of detailed pictures of
areas inside the body, taken from different angles. The pictures are
made by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A dye may be injected
into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more
clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography,
computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography. A CT scan
of the abdomen may be done to check for swollen lymph nodes or a
swollen spleen.
Certain factors affect treatment options
and prognosis (chance of recovery).
The
treatment options may depend on the following:
-
The
number of hairy (leukemia) cells and healthy blood cells in the
blood and bone marrow. -
Whether the spleen is swollen. -
Whether there are symptoms of leukemia, such as infection. -
Whether the leukemia has recurred (come back) after previous
treatment.
The
prognosis (chance of recovery) depends on the following:
Treatment often results in a long-lasting remission (a period during
which some or all of the signs and symptoms of the leukemia are
gone). If the leukemia returns after it has been in remission,
retreatment often causes another remission.
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Treatment
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