Hairy cell leukemia: a case of cryptococcosis appearing as hairy cell meningitis

Hairy cell leukemia has rarely been shown to involve the central nervous system. We have reported a case of hairy cell leukemia with apparent hairy cell meningitis, later found to be cryptococcal meningitis. Spinal fluid abnormalities, including the hairy cell pleocytosis, resolved with treatment of the cryptococcal infection.