Cutaneous findings in hairy cell leukemia. Review of 84 cases

The authors of this paper present a retrospective analysis of 84 cases of hairy cell leukaemia diagnosed over the past ten years in two haematology departments. Cutaneous manifestations are noted on 47 occasions, 58% of infectious origin with 60% of these infections due to bacterial agents, results which are in relatively close accord with those of the Mayo Clinic. Since no cases of necrotic angeitis or neutrophilic dermatosis are reported, the considerable number of publications concerning these affections give a poor indication of their rarity. Prospective studies will be required to evaluate the incidence of spinocellular carcinoma and melanoma, while specific lesions are only infrequently encountered and do not appear to bear the same unfavourable prognosis as in other haemopathia.