Hidden in Plain Sight: Unmasking Hairy Cell Leukemia Through Structured Clinical Reasoning

TL;DR

This paper presents a case where subtle blood abnormalities led to the diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia and a kidney lesion, highlighting the importance of careful clinical reasoning.

Contribution

The paper emphasizes the role of internists in identifying early signs of HCL through nonspecific laboratory findings.

Findings

A patient with isolated thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis was found to have hairy cell leukemia.

Flow cytometry confirmed a clonal population consistent with classical HCL and a coexisting CLL-like clone.

An incidental renal lesion was detected, prompting multidisciplinary management of concurrent malignancies.

Abstract

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare, indolent B-cell neoplasm that often presents with nonspecific laboratory findings, which can delay diagnosis. We report the case of a 75-year-old male with incidentally detected isolated thrombocytopenia and relative lymphocytosis. Peripheral blood smear showed lymphoid cells with cytoplasmic projections suggestive of hairy cells. Flow cytometry confirmed a dominant clonal population consistent with classical HCL, along with a small CD5+/CD23+ monoclonal B-cell population compatible with a chronic lymphocytic leukemia-like clone. Abdominal CT also revealed a renal lesion suspicious for carcinoma. This incidental finding led to the prioritization of urological intervention, illustrating how multidisciplinary management is coordinated when concurrent malignancies are present. The patient remains asymptomatic and under active surveillance for both conditions. Subtle hematologic abnormalities may indicate early stages of HCL, and internists play a crucial role in recognizing these early signs and initiating targeted diagnostic evaluation.

Figures