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Hairy cell leukemia

Bone marrow findings in 24 patients

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Summary

In 24 patients with hairy cell leukemia, histological and fine structural findings from biopsies of the bone marrow are reported and their validity is compared with other diagnostic procedures available. Diagnosis by light microscopy of anterior iliac crest biopsies obtained by the method of myelotomy is possible with a high degree of accuracy. The differentiation of hairy cell leukemia from other myelo- or lymphoproliferative disorders based on cytomorphology as well as patterns of growth is emphasized. Morphological differences between fibrosis in this entity and other lesions such as malignant lymphomas, Hodgkin's disease, osteomyelofibrosis and -sclerosis are emphasized.

Electron microscopy of the bone marrow shows single fibroblastic cells with numerous slender cytoplasmic processes randomly dispersed among the hairy cells. These fibroblasts are probably responsible for the synthesis of the reticulin and collagen fibres in their surroundings. Moreover fine structure of the hairy cells demonstrates pinocytic activity but no apparent phagocytosis in contrast to the phagocytic reticulum cells (histiocytes, macrophages). In the bone marrow the precursor cells and the many immature forms of hairy cells exhibit an overall lymphocytoid appearance during their maturation, suggesting a lymphocytic origin.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, West Germany

    K. F. Vykoupil, J. Thiele & A. Georgii

Authors
  1. K. F. Vykoupil
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  2. J. Thiele
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  3. A. Georgii
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Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: DFG-grant Ge 121/15

We are greatly indebted to our clinical colleagues for their cooperation and the opportunity of repeated biopsies in their patients: Professors H. Kleinsorg, Hildesheim; K. Mainzer, Hamburg; H. Poliwoda, Hannover; W. Pribilla, Berlin; and A. Stacher, Wien. We have to thank Professor E. Reale, Hannover, for his encouraging support and critical discussion of our electron microscopic findings. The excellent technical assistance of Ms. G. Bundies and E. Lange and Mrs. G. Ostertag and G. Rißmann is acknowledged.

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Vykoupil, K.F., Thiele, J. & Georgii, A. Hairy cell leukemia. Virchows Arch. A Path. Anat. and Histol. 370, 273–289 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445773

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