Bone lesions in hairy cell leukemia: Diagnosis and treatment

Eur J Haematol. 2020 Dec;105(6):682-691. doi: 10.1111/ejh.13505. Epub 2020 Aug 19.

Abstract

Skeletal involvement is a rare complication of hairy cell leukemia (HCL) with an incidence of approximately 3%. Bone lesions are commonly lytic, and the most common sites of involvement are the femoral head and neck. Skeletal involvement is typically associated with high tumor burden and bone marrow infiltration. However, isolated cases of skeletal disease without splenomegaly or bone marrow involvement are occasionally reported. This review focuses on skeletal lesions in HCL, particularly the pathogenesis, clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, and treatment approach. A literature review of the MEDLINE database for articles in English concerning hairy cell leukemia, skeletal symptoms, bone involvement was conducted via PubMed. Publications from January 1970 to May 2020 were scrutinized. Additional relevant publications were obtained by reviewing the references from the chosen articles.

Keywords: PET/CT scan; cladribine; hairy cell leukemia; magnetic resonance imaging; radiotherapy; treatment.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Bone Diseases / etiology*
  • Bone Diseases / therapy*
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Disease Management
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Hairy Cell / complications*
  • Leukemia, Hairy Cell / diagnosis
  • Leukemia, Hairy Cell / therapy
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Osteolysis / diagnosis
  • Osteolysis / etiology
  • Osteolysis / therapy
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Tumor Burden