hairy cell leukemia: a case report of unusual presentation without splenomegaly

Hairy cell leukemia (hcl) is characterized by pancytopenia and is usually associated with massive splenomegaly; however, the same may not be true in clinical settings. here, we report a case of hcl without the classical clinical feature of splenomegaly. absence of splenomegaly doesn’t exclude the diagnosis of hcl. a careful study of morphological findings on bone marrow aspirate and biopsy, followed by appropriate ancillary tests, aids in correct diagnosis. a high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosing and appropriately managing such cases. a strong suspicion on morphology in such cases is a prerequisite for reaching a correct diagnosis, even in the absence of usual clinical presentation.