Hairy cell leukemia (patient information): Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| (6 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Hairy cell leukemia (patient information)}} | {{Hairy cell leukemia (patient information)}} | ||
'''Editor-in-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.]] [mailto:charlesmichaelgibson@gmail.com] Phone:617-632-7753; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' Jinhui Wu, M.D.; [[Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.]] | '''Editor-in-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.]] [mailto:charlesmichaelgibson@gmail.com] Phone:617-632-7753; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' Jinhui Wu, M.D.; [[Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.]]; {{GRR}} {{Nat}} | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
'''Hairy cell leukemia (HCL)''' is | '''Hairy cell leukemia ([[Hairy cell leukemia|HCL]])''' is a type of [[B-cell lymphoma|B cell lymphoma]]. It is a rare disease, about 1,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year. Patients with Hairy cell leukemia tend to be older in general. The cells are small B lymphocytes with projections coming off them that give them a "hairy" appearance. They are always found in the bone marrow and spleen and circulating in the blood. Usual symptoms include unexplained [[weight loss]], [[fever]], [[night sweat]], etc. Like other [[Non-Hodgkin lymphoma]], [[biospy|biopsy]] may be the best method for diagnosis. Hairy cell leukemia is slow-growing, so some patients may never need treatment. An enlarging spleen or dropping blood counts are the typical reasons to begin treatment. Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell transplantation or a combination of the preceding. | ||
==What are the symptoms of Hairy cell leukemia?== | ==What are the symptoms of Hairy cell leukemia?== | ||
*Easy bruising or bleeding | *Easy bruising or bleeding | ||
*Excessive sweating (especially at night) | *Excessive sweating (especially at night) | ||
*Fatigue | *[[Fatigue]] | ||
*Feeling full after eating only a small amount | *Feeling full after eating only a small amount | ||
*Recurrent infections and fevers | *Recurrent infections and fevers | ||
*Swollen lymph glands | *[[Lymphadenopathy|Swollen lymph glands]] | ||
*Weakness | *Weakness | ||
*Weight loss | *Weight loss | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
==Diagnosis== | ==Diagnosis== | ||
*During a | *During a [[Physical examination|physical exam]], the doctor may be able to feel a swollen spleen or liver. An abdominal CT scan may be done to evaluate this swelling. | ||
*A | *A [[complete blood count]] usually shows low levels of white and red blood cells, as well as platelets. | ||
* | *[[Blood test|Blood tests]] and a [[Bone marrow examination|bone marrow biopsy]] can detect hairy cells. | ||
* | *[[Flow cytometry]] or a test called [[tartrate resistant acid phosphatase]] (TRAP) can confirm the cancer diagnosis. | ||
==When to seek urgent medical care== | ==When to seek urgent medical care== | ||
*Call your health care provider if you have '''significant bleeding'''. | *Call your health care provider if you have '''significant bleeding'''. | ||
* | *Call if you have signs of '''infection''', such as a persistent [[fever]], [[cough]], or general ill feeling. | ||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
*Treatment may not be needed for the early stages of this disease. Some patients may need an occasional blood transfusion. | *Treatment may not be needed for the early stages of this disease. Some patients may need an occasional blood transfusion. | ||
*If treatment is needed because of very low blood counts, a variety of | *If treatment is needed because of very low blood counts, a variety of [[chemotherapy]] drugs can be used. A drug called [[cladribine]] is used. In most cases, chemotherapy can relieve the symptoms for many years (When the signs and symptoms go away, you are said to be in remission). [[Interferon]] can relieve symptoms but is unlikely to lead to remission. | ||
* | *[[Splenectomy|Removing the spleen]] may improve blood counts but is unlikely to cure the disease. | ||
* | *[[Antibiotic|Antibiotics]] can be used to treat infections. | ||
*People with low blood counts will receive | *People with low blood counts will receive [[Growth factor|growth factors]] with possible [[Blood transfusion|transfusions]]. | ||
==Where to find medical care for Hairy cell leukemia?== | ==Where to find medical care for Hairy cell leukemia?== | ||
| Line 65: | Line 65: | ||
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?== | ||
More recent chemotherapy treatments have greatly improved the survival of patients with hairy cell leukemia. Most patients with hairy cell leukemia can expect to live 10 years or longer after diagnosis. | |||
==Possible complications== | ==Possible complications== | ||
The low blood counts caused by hairy cell leukemia can lead to '''infections''', '''fatigue''', and '''excessive bleeding'''. | The low blood counts caused by hairy cell leukemia can lead to '''infections''', '''fatigue''', and '''excessive bleeding'''. | ||
==Related chapters= | ==Related chapters== | ||
*[[B-cell lymphoma (patient information)|B cell lymphoma]] | *[[B-cell lymphoma (patient information)|B cell lymphoma]] | ||
| Line 85: | Line 85: | ||
[[Category:Types of cancer]] | [[Category:Types of cancer]] | ||
[[Category:Mature chapter]] | [[Category:Mature chapter]] | ||
[[Category:Up-To-Date]] | |||
[[Category:Oncology]] | |||
[[Category:Medicine]] | |||
[[Category:Hematology]] | |||
[[Category:Immunology]] | |||
Latest revision as of 17:21, 8 April 2019
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
| Hairy cell leukemia (patient information) | |
| ICD-10 | C91.4 |
|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 202.4 |
| ICD-O: | 9940/3 |
| DiseasesDB | 5589 |
| MedlinePlus | 000592 |
| MeSH | D007943 |
|
Hairy cell leukemia |
|
Hairy cell leukemia On the Web |
|---|
Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Jinhui Wu, M.D.; Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.; Grammar Reviewer: Natalie Harpenau, B.S.[2]
Overview
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a type of B cell lymphoma. It is a rare disease, about 1,000 people in the United States are diagnosed each year. Patients with Hairy cell leukemia tend to be older in general. The cells are small B lymphocytes with projections coming off them that give them a "hairy" appearance. They are always found in the bone marrow and spleen and circulating in the blood. Usual symptoms include unexplained weight loss, fever, night sweat, etc. Like other Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, biopsy may be the best method for diagnosis. Hairy cell leukemia is slow-growing, so some patients may never need treatment. An enlarging spleen or dropping blood counts are the typical reasons to begin treatment. Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, bone marrow, peripheral blood stem cell transplantation or a combination of the preceding.
What are the symptoms of Hairy cell leukemia?
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Excessive sweating (especially at night)
- Fatigue
- Feeling full after eating only a small amount
- Recurrent infections and fevers
- Swollen lymph glands
- Weakness
- Weight loss
What causes Hairy cell leukemia?
- HCL is caused by the abnormal growth of B cells. The cells look "hairy" under the microscope because they have fine projections coming from their surface.
- HCL can lead to low numbers of normal blood cells.
- The cause of this disease is unknown. It affects men more often than women. The average age of diagnosis is 55.
Diagnosis
- During a physical exam, the doctor may be able to feel a swollen spleen or liver. An abdominal CT scan may be done to evaluate this swelling.
- A complete blood count usually shows low levels of white and red blood cells, as well as platelets.
- Blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy can detect hairy cells.
- Flow cytometry or a test called tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) can confirm the cancer diagnosis.
When to seek urgent medical care
- Call your health care provider if you have significant bleeding.
- Call if you have signs of infection, such as a persistent fever, cough, or general ill feeling.
Treatment options
- Treatment may not be needed for the early stages of this disease. Some patients may need an occasional blood transfusion.
- If treatment is needed because of very low blood counts, a variety of chemotherapy drugs can be used. A drug called cladribine is used. In most cases, chemotherapy can relieve the symptoms for many years (When the signs and symptoms go away, you are said to be in remission). Interferon can relieve symptoms but is unlikely to lead to remission.
- Removing the spleen may improve blood counts but is unlikely to cure the disease.
- Antibiotics can be used to treat infections.
- People with low blood counts will receive growth factors with possible transfusions.
Where to find medical care for Hairy cell leukemia?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Hairy cell leukemia
Prevention of Hairy cell leukemia
There is no known way to prevent this disease.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
More recent chemotherapy treatments have greatly improved the survival of patients with hairy cell leukemia. Most patients with hairy cell leukemia can expect to live 10 years or longer after diagnosis.
Possible complications
The low blood counts caused by hairy cell leukemia can lead to infections, fatigue, and excessive bleeding.