MCQ Hematology Answer 8

Answer: D

( MDS: myelodysplastic syndrome, AML: acute myeloid leukemia, LGL: Large granular lymphocyte )

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is most often associated with cytopenias. Anti-CD20 is a highly sensitive immunohistochemical stain for B cells and, thus, is more sensitive for diagnosing HCL than TRAP, but the TRAP stain is more specific. The bone marrow in HCL is very often hypocellular, dysplastic changes are usually not present. Aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome , hypocellular AML and LGL syndrome are part of the differential diagnosis in a cytopenic patient with mild splenomegaly and an hypocellular marrow; large aggregates of CD20 positive lymphocytes are not seen in these disorders.

Pettitt, A.R., Zuzel, M., Cawley, J.C. Hairy cell leukemia: Biology and management. Br.J.Haematol, 1999, 106:2-8.

Category: Hematology MCQs