Learn about the three most important lines of latitude on Earth - the equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn. Learn about the three most important lines of latitude on Earth - the equator, Tropic of Cancer, and Tropic of Capricorn.
General Discussion. Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare type of blood cancer characterized by abnormal changes in white blood cells known as B lymphocytes. The bone marrow creates too many of these defective cells, known as hairy cells because of the thin hair-like projections found on their surface.
Hairy Cell Leukemia. Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) is a type of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). The disease is called hairy cell because in this subtype of leukemia the malignant lymphocytes have small projections on their surface that give the appearance of hair when one looks at a blood smear under the microscope. The abnormal (malignant) cell in Hairy Cell Leukemia is a B-lymphocyte. This cell infiltrates the bone marrow and usually the spleen. Along with fibrosis (scar tissue), it consumes most of the bone marrow space. As a result, the patient often develops pancytopenia (decreased red cells, white cells and platelets).